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EMERGENCY  RELIEF 

AFTER  THE  WASHINGTON  PLACE  FIRE 

New  York,  March  25,  1911 


REPORT  OF  THE 

RED  CROSS  EMERGENCY  RELIEF  COMMITTEE 

OF  THE 

CHARITY  ORGANIZATION  SOCIETY  OF 

THE  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK 

1912 


GIFT  OF 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2007  with  funding  from 

Microsoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/emergencyreliefaOOcharrich 


EMERGENCY  RELIEF 

AFTER  THE  WASHINGTON  PLACE  FIRE 

New  York,  March  25,  1911 


Committee 

ROBERT  W.  de  FOREST,  Chairman 

JACOB  H.  SCHIFF,  Treasurer 

EDWARD  T.  DEVINE.  Secretary 


OTTO  T.  BANNARD 
CLEVELAND  H.  DODGE 
MRS.  W.  K.  DRAPER 
LEE  K.  FRANKEL 
MRS.  JOHN  M.  GLENN 


LLOYD  C.  GRISCOM 
THOMAS  M.  MULRY 
LEOPOLD  PLAUT 
MRS.  WILLIAM  B.  RICE 
ANTONIO  STELLA 


REPORT  OF  THE 

RED  CROSS  EMERGENCY  RELIEF  COMMITTEE 

OF  THE 

CHARITY  ORGANIZATION  SOCIETY  OF 

THE  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK 

1912 


<^° 


I  .  •  •••••  .     . 


••._.-       •     • 


»  •  •  .    .  • 


ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

The  Committee  takes  this  opportunity  to  express  its  appre- 
ciation of  the  generous  gifts  of  money  and  of  personal  service 
which  have  been  made  for  this  work. 

We  are  especially  indebted,  for  services  specified  in  the  course 
of  the  report,  to  the  United  Hebrew  Charities,  the  Association 
for  Improving  the  Condition  of  the  Poor,  and  the  Society  of  St. 
Vincent  de  Paul  of  this  city ;  to  the  Jewish  Colonization  Associa- 
tion of  Paris;  to  the  American  Consuls-General  in  Moscow, 
Vienna,  and  Bucharest;  to  the  Italian  Consul-General  in  New 
York;  and  to  the  Union  Relief  Committee,  for  the  active  co- 
operation shown  through  its  executive  agents. 


361117 


This  report  of  the  Red  Cross  emergency  relief, 
following  the  fire  which  occurred  on  March  25, 
1911,  in  the  premises  occupied  by  the  Triangle 
Shirt  Waist  Company  at  23  Washington  Place, 
New  York  City,  is  submitted  by  the  Red  Cross 
Emergency  Relief  Committee  of  the  Charity 
Organization  Society. 


One  of  the  essentials  in  emergency  relief  is  quick  action  in 
organizing  the  work  and  promptness  in  reaching  final  decisions. 
This  was  the  first  occasion  which  had  arisen  in  New  York  for 
testing  the  value  of  the  affiliation  between  the  American  National 
Red  Cross  and  the  Charity  Organization  Society  as  its  institu- 
tional member.  The  degree  in  which  it  made  immediate  and 
effective  action  possible  and  concentrated  contributions  and  ad- 
ministration has  been  extremely  gratifying.  The  fire  occurred 
late  Saturday  afternoon.  On  Sunday  Robert  W.  de  Forest, 
chairman  of  the  Red  Cross  Emergency  Relief  Committee  of  the 
Charity  Organization  Society,  called  upon  Mayor  Gay  nor  and 
arranged  with  him  for  the  immediate  issue  of  an  appropriate 
appeal  for  contributions  in  the  name  of  the  Red  Cross.  All 
relief  funds,  except  that  of  the  Union  Relief  Committee  (see 
page  n),  were  consolidated  with  that  of  the  Society's  Red  Cross 
Committee,  and  this  exception  was  more  apparent  than  real 
because  of  the  co-operation  to  which  reference  will  be  made. 
The  work  of  receiving  and  acknowledging  contributions  was  at- 
tended to  in  the  office  of  Jacob  H.  Schiff,  treasurer  of  the  fund. 

An  emergency  office*  was  opened  in  an  accessible  location — 
room  1 1  Arcade  of  the  Metropolitan  Building,  I  Madison  Avenue 
— at  half-past  eight  Monday  morning,  under  the  personal  direc- 

*  Office  and  furniture  were  supplied  by  the  Metropolitan  Life  Insurance 
Company. 

5 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

tion  of  Edward  T.  Devine,  who  has  remained  in  charge  of  the 
relief  work. 

The  police  lists  of  dead  and  injured  were  secured  on  Sunday, 
and  before  ten  o'clock  on  Monday  morning  a  staff  of  visitors, 
office  assistants,  and  stenographers  had  been  recruited  from  the 
United  Hebrew  Charities,  the  Association  for  Improving  the 
Condition  of  the  Poor,  the  Society  of  St.  Vincent  de  Paul,  and 
the  Charity  Organization  Society.  Visitors  were  in  the  field  be- 
fore noon.  A  record  card  was  printed  during  the  day  and  was 
ready  for  use  Tuesday  morning.  By  Wednesday  night  all  the 
families  on  the  police  lists  had  been  visited. 

At  the  end  of  three  weeks  the  emergency  office  was  closed, 
and  the  Director  continued  the  work  from  his  offices  in  the  United 
Charities  Building.  Applications  were  received  by  mail,  as  well 
as  at  the  Building,  and  in  all  twenty-two  new  cases  were  regis- 
tered in  the  next  four  weeks.  After  that  time,  seven  weeks  after 
the  accident,  the  few  new  applications  for  assistance  on  account 
of  the  fire  were  handled  by  the  Joint  Application  Bureau  in  the 
Charities  Building  in  the  regular  way,  and  referred,  if  need  seemed 
to  exist,  to  the  charitable  societies,  on  the  understanding  that 
they  would  be  reimbursed  for  any  expenditure  in  such  cases 
which  was  properly  chargeable  to  the  emergency  relief  fund. 

One-third  of  the  cases,  chiefly  those  in  which  no  serious 
injury  had  been  sustained,  were  closed  within  five  weeks  after 
the  fire;  and  another  third  within  two  months  more,  that  is, 
before  July.  Of  the  third  that  remained  in  charge  at  that  time — 
three  months  after  the  fire — some  had  not  yet  been  able  to  work 
out  plans  for  the  future,  and  in  others  it  was  necessary  to  await 
information  from  remote  villages  in  Europe  before  reaching  a 
final  decision.     The  last  payments  were  made  in  March,  191 2. 

The  methods  adopted  for  the  distribution  of  the  Red  Cross 
Emergency  relief  fund  have  been  determined  by  the  size  and 
character  of  the  fund ;  the  economic  status  of  the  families  affected 
by  the  fire ;  and  our  understanding  of  the  function  of  emergency 
relief. 

In  our  opinion  it  is  the  function  of  emergency  relief  not  to 
reimburse  financial  losses  as  such,  but  to  restore  the  victims  of 
the  disaster,  as  quickly  as  possible,  and  as  completely  as  may  be, 

6 


WASHINGTON   PLACE  FIRE 

to  their  accustomed  standard  of  living,  or  to  prevent  a  serious 
lowering  of  that  standard. 

The  families  affected  by  the  Washington  Place  fire  were  for^l 
the  most  part  recent  Jewish  and  Italian  immigrants;  dependent 
largely  on  seasonal  occupation  or  work  irregular  for  other  reasons ; 
dependent  largely,  too,  on  the  earnings  of  girls  and  women. 
They  were  for  the  most  part  families  who  had  never  received 
charitable  assistance.  In  only  a  few  cases,  moreover,  would  J 
they  have  become  dependent  on  charity  as  a  result  of  this  acci- 
dent if  there  had  been  no  special  fund  for  their  benefit.  Around 
most  of  them  there  was  a  circle  of  relatives  and  friends  who  might 
have  prevented  this,  if  there  were  not  sufficient  potential  re- 
sources in  the  immediate  family.  The  "invisible  relief  fund" 
would  have  been  called  into  active  operation.*  On  the  other 
hand,  in  nearly  every  case  the  accident  caused,  aside  from  griev- 
ous personal  bereavement,  an  economic  loss  which  would  have 
involved  a  definite  lowering  of  the  standard  of  living  of  one  or 
more  families  if  there  had  not  been  resources  in  addition  to  those 
of  the  charitable  agencies. 

The  emergency  relief  fund  was  of  such  proportions  and  of 
such  a  character  that  it  offered  no  obstacle  to  the  application  of 
this  theory  of  the  function  of  such  a  fund.  It  was  perhaps  un- 
precedented in  liberality.  The  total  amount  contributed  to  the"^\ 
Red  Cross  was  $103,899.38,  and  the  Union  fund  brought  the 
grand  total  to  about  $120,000.00,  a  larger  amount,  in  proportion 
to  the  number  of  families  and  the  situation  caused  by  the  fire, 
than  has  generally,  if  ever,  been  available  for  emergency  relief. 
It  seemed  to  be  essentially  an  expression  of  sympathy:  not  so" 
much  carefully  considered  contributions  to  supply  the  necessities 

*That  they  were,  in  the  main,  naturally  self-reliant  is  evident  from  the 
fact  that  applications  for  assistance  were  received  from  only  about  half  the 
employes  who  were  in  the  fire,  and  from  very  few  who  had  not  been  physically 
injured,  although  information  about  the  fund  and  its  great  size  was  widely 
spread  through  the  papers  in  their  own  languages. 

Another  evidence  was  the  small  amount  of  discontent  which  was  stirred 
up  by  well-intentioned  but  ill-advised  outsiders  who  went  to  all  the  families 
this  winter  to  find  out  whether,  in  their  opinion,  they  had  been  justly  treated, 
and  who  seem  to  have  been  understood  as  telling  them,  in  effect,  that  if  they 
wanted  anything  more  the  Red  Cross  ought  to  give  it  to  them.  Of  the  com- 
paratively few  who  were  in  this  way  roused  to  complain  there  were  not  more 
than  four  or  five  who  did  not  agree,  after  talking  it  over,  that  their  complaints 
were  unreasonable. 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

of  life,  as  impulsive  gifts,  from  a  passionate  desire  to  do  what- 
ever remained  in  our  power  to  compensate  for  the  horrible  event. 
There  was  sufficient  money  to  do  whatever  seemed  wise. 

The  decision  as  to  what  appropriation  should  be  made  in 
each  case  has,  therefore,  in  accordance  with  our  theory,  been 
based  on  a  consideration  of  the  standard  of  living  of  that  par- 
ticular family  and  the  factor  which  the  killed  or  injured  person 
was  in  maintaining  that  standard.  We  have  not  attempted  to 
compensate  for  loss,  in  the  sense  of  assigning  a  cash  value  to  each 
life  lost  and  reimbursing  the  family  to  that  amount;  nor  to  re- 
place lost  savings  or  jewelry  or  other  property.  On  the  other 
hand,  we  have  not  withheld  an  appropriation  merely  because  it 
seemed  clear  that  the  family  would  not,  even  if  we  gave  nothing, 
come  to  dependence  on  charity.  We  have  not  worked  out  a 
schedule  of  appropriations  for  different  types  of  cases,  on  the 
basis  of  relationship  to  the  deceased  and  number  of  dependents, 
as  was  done  after  the  mine  disasters  at  Cherry  and  Monongah. 
What  we  have  done  has  been  to  consider  each  case  individually, 
as  is  done  in  ordinary  relief  work,  and  on  the  basis  of  all  the  in- 
formation at  our  command,  considering  all  the  elements  in  the 
situation,  to  grant  an  appropriation  which  should  obviate  an 
otherwise  inevitable  lowering  of  the  standard  of  living  in  that 
particular  family. 

In  not  a  few  cases  it  has  happened  that  in  planning  to  ob- 
viate a  lowering  of  the  standard  of  living,  it  has  been  found  even 
easier  to  facilitate  an  actual  improvement :  to  grant  a  lump  sum 
which  sets  a  father  up  in  business,  for  example,  rather  than  merely 
to  continue,  in  the  form  of  a  pension,  his  daughter's  accustomed 
contribution.  It  is  our  hope,  and  belief,  that  ultimately  a 
number  of  these  families  will  be  in  a  more  favorable  economic 
situation  than  they  were  before  the  disaster.  If,  on  the  contrary, 
it  happens,  as  it  has  happened  in  some  cases,  that  money  given 
for  business  has  been  used  for  current  living  expenses,  perhaps 
rather  "riotous"  living,  in  relation  to  the  family's  standard,  we 
do  not  feel  that  this  necessarily  proves  that  the  relief  should  not 
have  been  given.  A  chance  has  at  any  rate  been  given  the 
family — heretofore  capable  of  managing  its  own  affairs  success- 
fully— to  realize  an  ambition  and  to  do  the  thing  which,  in  the 

8 


WASHINGTON   PLACE   FIRE 

opinion  of  competent  advisers,  would  have  been  the  best  solution 
for  its  problems,  and  it  is  not  impossible  that  the  failure — on  its 
own  responsibility — has  been  as  valuable  an  experience  as  care- 
fully guarded  and  guided  success  would  have  been.  There  is 
such  a  thing  as  pauperizing  by  too  much  advice  and  oversight. 

By  this  method  of  individual  consideration  we  may  have  been 
led  into  apparent  inconsistencies,  but  we  believe,  after  a  careful 
review  of  the  work,  that  they  are  largely  superficial  and  that  there 
is  probably  more  fundamental  consistency  than  would  have  been 
reached  by  the  tariff  method. 

Care  has  been  exercised  in  collecting  information;  conflict- 
ing evidence  has  been  sifted  and  weighed ;  the  most  natural  and 
reliable  sources  of  information  which  were  accessible  have  been 
consulted ;  careful  consideration  has  been  given  to  recommenda- 
tions from  such  quarters  as  the  Italian  Consulate;  and  advice 
has  also  been  sought  from  persons  acquainted  with  the  standards 
and  customs  of  those  particular  groups  of  the  population  which 
were  affected  by  this  disaster.  We  have  tried  to  find  out  what 
plans  the  family  had  already  made  for  the  future  which  depended 
on  the  person  who  had  been  killed,  and  to  get  from  relatives  or 
friends  suggestions  as  to  the  best  way  to  help  and  their  estimates 
of  what  would  be  a  suitable  appropriation.  With  few  exceptions 
the  suggestions  as  to  both  plans  and  amounts  were  reasonable ; 
and  with  few  exceptions  the  amounts  appropriated  were  at  least 
equal  to  (generally  larger  than)  the  tentative  suggestions  of 
family  and  friends. 

Most  of  the  visiting  in  the  homes  was  done  by  experienced 
case- workers,  and  their  recommendations  as  to  the  amount  and 
kind  of  relief  have  formed  the  basis  of  the  decisions  of  the  Direc- 
tor and  the  Committee.  In  the  first  few  days  some  volunteer 
service  was  accepted,  but  it  was  found,  as  it  has  been  found  else- 
where, that  an  experienced  visitor,  even  with  no  knowledge  of 
the  foreign  languages  involved,  gets  to  the  bottom  of  the  situa- 
tion more  surely  than  the  novice  at  investigation,  even  one  who 
has  the  advantage  of  speaking  the  language. 

At  the  end  of  October,  seven  months  after  the  fire,  a  visit 
was  made  to  all  of  the  families  who  could  be  easily  found,  for 
the  purpose  of  forming  an  opinion  as  to  whether  further  grants 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

were  desirable  and  whether  the  amounts  and  kind  of  assistance 
given  have  apparently  been  justified.  A  number  of  families 
had  moved,  leaving  no  information  at  their  previous  residence, 
and  in  such  cases  it  seemed  better  not  to  try  to  trace  them  or  to 
interfere  with  a  natural  desire  to  break  with  old  associations.  A 
large  proportion  of  the  families  was  seen,  however,  or  news  about 
them  was  secured  from  relatives,  and  the  results  on  the  whole 
were  very  gratifying.  Appropriations  made  for  the  purpose  of 
bringing  about  a  restoration  of  health  had  been  especially  suc- 
cessful. With  few  exceptions  the  families  were  satisfied  and 
appreciative,  and  for  the  most  part  the  plans  which  had  been 
made  were  being  carried  out.  Whatever  was  of  special  interest 
in  the  situation  at  that  time  or  has  developed  since  will  be  noted 
later  in  this  report  in  the  individual  summaries  of  the  cases. 

To  the  standing  Red  Cross  Emergency  Relief  Committee  of 
the  Charity  Organization  Society*  were  added  for  the  purpose 
of  this  disaster,  as  the  By-laws  of  the  Society  provide,  several 
persons  whose  experience  and  interests  made  their  counsel  of 
special  value  for  this  particular  occasion:  Leopold  Plaut,  presi- 
dent of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities;  Lee  K.  Frankel,  assistant 
secretary  of  the  Metropolitan  Life  Insurance  Company;  Thomas 
M.  Mulry,  president  of  the  Superior  Council  of  the  Society  of  St. 
Vincent  de  Paul ;  and  Dr.  Antonio  Stella,  a  representative  of  the 
Italian  community. 

The  Committee  did  not  undertake  to  consider  individual 
cases,  but  authorized  the  Director  to  organize  a  Conference  of 
experienced  social  workers  to  advise  with  him  for  this  purpose. 
This  Conference  consisted  of  Mrs.  Glenn,  Dr.  Frankel,  and  Mr. 
Mulry,  of  the  Committee;  and  in  addition  H.  E.  Adelman,  secre- 
tary of  the  Hebrew  Free  Burial  Society;  John  A.  Kingsbury, 
general  agent  of  the  Association  for  Improving  the  Condition  of 
the  Poor;  William  I.  Nichols,  general  secretary  of  the  Brooklyn 
Bureau  of  Charities;  W.  Frank  Persons,  superintendent  of  the 
Charity  Organization  Society;  Morris  D.  Waldman,  manager  of 
the  United  Hebrew  Charities;    and  William  Mailly  and  Miss 

*The  membership  of  the  Society's  standing  committee  was  as  follows: 
Robert  W.  de  Forest,  Chairman;  Otto  T.  Bannard,  Edward  T.  Devine,  Mrs. 
John  M.  Glenn,  Lloyd  C.  Griscom,  Mrs.  William  B.  Rice,  Jacob  H.  Schiff. 
Ex  officio:  Cleveland  H.  Dodge,  Mrs.  W.  K.  Draper. 

10 


WASHINGTON   PLACE   FIRE 

Elizabeth  Dutcher,  representing  the  Union  Relief  Committee. 
About  half  of  the  cases  have  been  discussed  individually,  some  of 
the  more  serious  ones  at  considerable  length  and  more  than  once. 
The  final  decision  for  action  has  rested  with  the  Director,  repre- 
senting the  general  Committee. 

The  eighteen  or  twenty  Brooklyn  cases,  by  the  express  de- 
sire of  the  Red  Cross  Emergency  Relief  Committee  of  the  Brook- 
lyn Bureau  of  Charities,  were  placed  in  the  hands  of  that  Bureau 
and  disbursements  from  the  Red  Cross  fund  for  these  families 
have  been  made  through  the  Bureau  on  its  recommendations. 

The  Ladies'  Waistmakers  Union  quite  properly  felt  that  the 
relief  of  its  members  should  be  given  from  its  own  fund,  which 
was  augmented  by  sums  raised  by  Forward  and  other  East  Side 
papers.  On  the  first  day  of  the  emergency  work  co-operative 
arrangements  were  made  with  the  Union  to  leave  in  its  hands  the 
relief  of  all  cases  in  which  the  victim  had  been  a  Union  member, 
and  also  cases  in  which  the  Union  had  a  special  interest  because 
of  some  member  of  the  family  who  expected  to  continue  in  the 
trade.  In  fourteen  cases  emergent  relief  was  given  by  Red  Cross 
visitors  before  it  was  known  that  the  Union  was  in  charge.  In 
several  other  Union  cases  the  Red  Cross  undertook  to  provide 
for  a  certain  aspect  of  the  situation  at  the  request  of  the  Union 
Committee,  and  these  cases  we  shall  include  in  all  the  following 
discussion  of  the  work  of  the  Red  Cross  Committee. 


ii 


II 

The  Red  Cross  Committee  has  had  the  responsibility  for 
1 66  cases  altogether.  In  94  there  had  been  one  or  more  deaths; 
in  72  there  had  been  no  death. 

It  has  seemed  appropriate  to  grant  assistance  in  some  amount 
in  all  but  two  of  the  cases  in  which  there  was  a  death;  and  in 
practically  all  the  cases  in  which  an  injured  employe  has  applied 
for  aid. 

The  two  cases  in  which  no  assistance  has  been  granted  to 
families  in  which  there  was  a  death  are  the  following: 

No.  71.  A  Russian  girl  of  21  was  killed.  She  lived  with  an 
aunt,  to  whom  she  paid  board,  and  who  sustained  no  financial 
loss,  since  the  funeral  expenses  were  covered  by  the  girl's  bank 
account,  and  who  seemed  neither  to  expect  nor  to  desire  assist- 
ance. She  had  a  father  living  in  Brooklyn,  with  whom  she  had 
nothing  to  do,  and  a  sister  in  an  orphan  asylum.  The  father 
applied  for  assistance  to  take  the  child  out  of  the  institution. 
As  she  had  been  placed  there  because  he  was  not  a  suitable  guar- 
dian and  he  was  still  living  in  degrading  surroundings,  and  as  the 
daughter  who  was  killed  had  not  contributed  in  any  way  to  his 
support  or  that  of  her  sister,  it  seemed  inadvisable  to  make  any 
appropriation  to  him. 

No.  149.  An  unmarried  man  30  years  old  was  killed.  He 
was  a  contractor,  making  $27.00  to  $30.00  a  week.  He  lived 
with  a  step-brother.  He  had  several  older  brothers  and  sisters 
(self-supporting)  in  Russia,  and  one  younger  brother,  a  cripple, 
whom  he  was  said  to  support.  He  left  a  bank  account  of 
$195.00.  The  step-brother  intended  to  send  to  the  brother  in 
Russia  all  that  was  left  of  this  after  meeting  the  funeral  expenses, 
which  in  the  Jewish  families  were  generally  small.  He  stated 
that  through  his  lawyer  he  had  placed  the  matter  in  the  hands  of 
the  Russian  Consul.  No  request  for  aid  has  been  received  from 
any  source. 

In  twelve  other  cases  in  which  application  for  assistance  was 
received  from  or  in  behalf  of  some  one  who  had  been  more  or  less 
remotely  connected  with  the  fire,  no  relief  was  granted. 

It  was  not  considered  a  legitimate  use  of  the  fund  to  make 
grants  to  employes  of  the  Triangle  Shirt  Waist  Company  who 
were  out  of  work  but  were  not  injured  in  any  way.     The  fire 

12 


WASHINGTON   PLACE   FIRE 

occurred  at  the  height  of  the  season  in  that  trade,  and  "laying 
off"  would  have  begun  very  soon  in  any  event.  There  were  sur- 
prisingly few  applications  for  help  on  this  ground,  no  doubt  be- 
cause most  of  the  employes  in  this  trade  are  prepared  for  irregu- 
larity of  work.  If  the  opposite  policy  had  been  adopted  it  would 
have  been  necessary  to  decide  in  each  case,  among  other  things, 
whether  the  applicant  would  still  have  been  working  for  the 
Triangle  Shirt  Waist  Company  at  the  date  of  application  if  the 
fire  had  not  occurred. 

The  twelve  cases  in  which  no  assistance  was  granted  were 
the  following: 

No.  202.  A  married  woman,  44  years  old,  was  slightly 
injured.  She  was  living  with  her  husband,  a  painter,  who  was 
out  of  work  only  temporarily,  and  there  were  no  children  in  the 
family.  In  October  it  was  found  that  the  man  and  his  wife  had 
gone  to  Buda  Pesth  to  live  with  a  married  daughter. 

No.  209.  A  married  woman  of  24,  an  Italian,  was  said  to 
be  suffering  from  shock.  Her  husband  was  working  in  Buffalo 
and  sending  her  money,  and  she  seemed  to  be  well  and  in  no  need. 

No.  222.  Application  was  received  by  letter  on  June  20, 
three  months  after  the  fire,  from  a  girl  who  said  that  she  had  been 
injured  in  the  fire  and  was  still  unable  to  work.  The  application 
was  referred  to  the  United  Hebrew  Charities,  who  found  that  the 
income  of  the  family  of  nine  was  $30.00  per  week  without  the 
wages  of  this  girl,  and  who  did  not  recommend  assistance. 

No.  173.  An  able-bodied  man,  not  injured  at  all,  was 
brought  to  the  office  by  the  city  representative  of  the  Triangle 
Shirt  Waist  Company.  He  lived  with  his  father  and  mother. 
There  was  no  evidence  of  need  in  the  home.  The  man  was  re- 
ferred to  the  National  Employment  Exchange  and  the  interest 
of  the  superintendent  was  bespoken  for  him,  but  he  did  not  call 
there. 

No.  174.  An  able-bodied  man,  not  injured  at  all,  was 
brought  to  the  office  by  the  city  representative  of  the  Triangle 
Shirt  Waist  Company  to  ask  for  help  because  he  was  out  of  work. 
He  is  related  to  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Company  and  the 
family  was  found  to  be  in  comfortable  circumstances. 

No.  184.  A  girl  of  21,  who  was  not  in  the  fire,  because  she 
happened  to  be  on  a  lower  floor  of  the  building  when  it  broke  out, 
was  reported  by  a  caller  at  the  office  as  "dying  of  hunger."  It 
was  found  that  she  was  living  with  relatives  and  not  only  had  not 
been  injured  in  any  way  but  was  in  no  need  of  any  kind. 

No.  185.  A  girl  of  19,  a  friend  and  room-mate  of  the  one 
just  mentioned,  was  reported  in  the  same  way.  All  the  circum- 
stances were  the  same. 

13 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

No.  150.  A  porter  in  the  Asch  Building  applied  for  a  grant 
on  the  ground  that  he  had  lost  some  clothes.  As  he  was  not 
injured  and  was  re-employed  almost  immediately  it  seemed 
inadvisable  to  make  any  appropriation. 

No.  191.  A  letter  from  the  Philadelphia  Branch  of  the 
Workmen's  Circle  asking  for  a  report  in  regard  to  a  man  who  was 
seeking  help  from  the  Circle  was  received  through  the  Union 
Committee.  He  had  moved  from  the  address  which  was  given 
and  could  not  be  found.  A  letter  to  him  brought  no  response, 
nor  was  it  returned  unclaimed;  nor  did  the  inquirers  in 
Philadelphia  send  later  information  in  reply  to  our  report. 

No.  123.  A  young  man  who  had  not  been  in  the  fire  and 
had  not  even  been  employed  by  the  Triangle  Shirt  Waist  Com- 
pany, asked  for  help  because  he  was  thrown  out  of  work  at  the 
time  of  the  fire.     He  was  directed  to  an  employment  bureau. 

No.  221.  A  letter  was  received  on  May  17  from  a  man  in 
Brooklyn  who  said  that  his  daughter,  who  worked  in  a  building 
adjoining  the  Asch  Building,  had  been  so  affected  by  the  fire  that 
she  had  been  under  the  care  of  several  physicians  and  was  at 
that  time  in  a  private  hospital.     No  action  seemed  advisable. 

No.  210.  A  girl  of  21,  not  employed  by  the  Triangle  Shirt 
Waist  Company,  happened  to  be  passing  on  the  street  and  be- 
came insane  from  witnessing  the  fire.  Her  brother  called  to  ask 
advice  about  care  for  her.  Before  a  visitor  reached  the  house 
the  same  day  her  condition  had  become  so  alarming  that  she  had 
been  sent  to  Bellevue  Hospital.  Later  she  was  transferred  to  a 
state  hospital  for  the  insane,  and  on  July  3  was  deported  to 
Austria. 


14 


Ill 

The  total  amount  spent  for  relief  has  been  $81,126.16. 

Two  hundred  and  eighty-seven  dollars  was  spent  in  emergent 
relief  in  14  cases  which  were  otherwise  entirely  in  charge  of  the 
Union  Committee.  Leaving  these  out  of  consideration,  the  size  of 
our  appropriations  ranges  from  $10.00  to  $1000.00  in  the  families 
in  which  no  death  had  occurred;  and  from  $50.00  to  $5,167.20  in 
the  families  which  had  lost  one  or  more  of  their  members. 


SIZE  OF  APPROPRIATIONS 
Number  of  Families  Receiving  Specified  Amounts 


Amounts 

Families 
in  which 
there  was 
loss  of  life 

Families 
in  which 
there  was 
no   death 

Total 

Less  than  $50 

1 

9 
25 

9 
26 

$50-$9Q .... 

35 

$ioo-$i99 

4 
10 
18 

4 

14 
6 

3 
2 

18 

16 

21 

6 

$200-$299 

$30O-$399 

$400-$499 

61 

$Soo-$599 

19 
10 

5 
3 
2 

18 

10 

5 

3 

2 

$6oo-$699 

$70o-$799 

$8oo-$899 

$900-$999 

39 

$iooo-$iqqq 

9 

1 

4 
1 
1 

1 

11 

1 

4 
1 
1 

$2000-^2999 

S^OOCH^QQQ 

$4.000-$4.QQQ 

Over  $5000 

17 

Total 

92 

60 

152 

152 

Three-fifths  of  the  appropriations  to  families  in  which  there 
was  a  death  were  of  $500.00  or  over,  one-fifth  of  $1000.00  and 

15 


EMERGENCY    RELIEF 

over;   in  only  one  case  of  injury  was  the  amount  over  $500.00, 
and  that  one  appropriation  was  of  $1000.00. 

About  90  per  cent  of  the  total  expenditure*  was  for  families 
in  which  there  had  been  a  death  : 

To  92  families  who  lost  one  or  more  members $72,426.81 

To  60  families  affected  in  other  ways 7,842.35 

Total  (for  Red  Cross  cases) $80,269.16 

The  purposes  for  which  the  appropriations  were  made  are 
shown  in  the  following  table: 

CLASSIFICATION  OF  APPROPRIATIONS 

Purpose  Amounts 

Emergent  and  temporary  relief 

To  families  in  which  there  was  no  death $7,842.35! 

To  families  in  which  there  was  a  death 4,688.66 

To  families  in  charge  of  the  Union  Committee  ....        287.00    $12,818.01 

Funeral  expenses 6,167.10! 

Permanent  provision  for  relatives  of  those  who  were  killed: 

In  the  United  States 44,672. i5§ 

In  Europe,  Palestine,  and  the  West  Indies 16,898.90 

Total $80,556.16 


*  Omitting  again  the  $287.00  in  emergent  relief  to  Union  cases. 

t  This  represents  the  total  expenditures  in  these  cases. 

%  This  includes  $1000.00  to  the  Hebrew  Free  Burial  Society,  to  reimburse 
it  for  its  expenditures  in  connection  with  thirty  funerals. 

§  $16,500.00  of  this  represents  trust  funds  for  sixteen  children  in  seven 
families. 


16 


IV 

Emergent  relief  was  given  freely  throughout  the  first  few 
days,  in  the  office  as  well  as  in  the  homes;  and  liberal  temporary 
assistance,  pending  a  final  decision  or  a  re-adjustment  of  family 
arrangements,  was  given  to  families  who  had  lost  one  or  more  of 
their  members,  and  to  persons  who  had  been  injured  or  were  in- 
capacitated by  the  nervous  shock.  The  amount  spent  for  these 
purposes  was  $12,818.01,  or  about  16  per  cent  of  the  total. 

In  all  of  the  Jewish  families  in  which  there  seemed  to  be  any 
need  twenty-five  or  fifty  dollars  was  given  for  the  expenses  of 
Passover  week,  and  a  similar  gift  for  Easter  was  made  in  a  number 
of  Italian  families.  Modest  amounts  were  granted  to  replace 
clothing  that  had  been  lost  when  it  seemed  to  be  really  needed. 
The  largest  part  of  this  sum,  however,  was  given  to  enable 
those  who  had  been  injured  to  regain  their  health  and  to  do  so 
without  unreasonable  sacrifice  on  the  part  of  other  members  of 
the  family. 

It  was  apparent  very  soon  after  the  accident  that  the  best 
thing  for  many  of  the  survivors  would  be  to  go  to  the  country  for 
a  while.  The  Association  for  Improving  the  Condition  of  the 
Poor  hospitably  arranged  for  a  number  of  them  at  Hartsdale  and 
the  Solomon  and  Betty  Loeb  Memorial  Home  gave  them  pre- 
cedence over  other  applications.  Similar  offers  came  from  the 
Nurses  Settlement  and  others.  It  was  difficult,  however,  to 
persuade  the  girls  to  leave  home.  Only  twelve  of  the  Italians 
were  induced  to  go,  and  the  approach  of  the  Passover  season 
made  even  greater  difficulty  in  case  of  the  Jewish  girls.  Three 
went  to  the  Loeb  Home.  Both  Italians  and  Jews  preferred  to 
stay  at  home,  and — it  was  evident — to  discuss  the  accident  most 
of  the  time.  A  few  of  them  had  relatives  in  the  country,  or  knew 
of  boarding  places  to  which  they  were  willing  to  go,  and  in  these 
cases  we  provided  for  the  necessary  expenses. 

In  one  case  emergent  relief  was  given  to  a  girl  who,  it  was 
afterwards  learned,  had  no  claim  on  the  fund;  and  in  two  cases 

2  17 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

to  men  who  were  only  out  of  work.     These  three  cases  were  as 
follows : 

No.  144.  An  Irish  girl,  about  27  years  old,  applied  a  week 
after  the  fire  for  help  to  return  to  relatives  in  Ireland.  She  said 
that  she  and  her  sister  were  both  in  the  fire,  and  that  she  had  been 
looking  for  her-  sister  ever  since.  As  it  was  Saturday  afternoon 
and  she  said  she  had  only  $2.00  and  her  board  was  overdue, 
$10.00  was  given  in  emergency  relief.  When  a  visit  was  made  at 
her  boarding  place  on  Monday  it  was  found  that  the  story  was  all 
a  fabrication,  even  the  name  she  had  given,  and  that  she  was  not 
even  an  employe  of  the  Triangle  Shirt  Waist  Company,  though 
she  may  have*  worked  there  a  year  or  so  previously.    ($10.00) 

No.  217.  A  young  man  of  19  asked  for  help  a  month  after 
the  fire  on  the  ground  that  he  was  unable  to  work  on  account  of 
the  nervous  shock,  but  he  was  apparently  in  good  health  and 
there  was  some  reason  to  think  that  he  was  working  at  the  time. 
He  sent  "money  to  his  parents  in  Sicily.  ($10.00) 

No.  219.  A  married  man  of  44  and  his  14-year-old  son,  not 
injured,  asked  for  help  because  they  were  out  of  work.  The 
wife  ordinarily  worked  but  was  temporarily  idle.  There  were 
two  younger  children.  Both  the  man  and  the  boy  had  only 
recently  gone  to  the  Triangle  Shirt  Waist  Company  and  were 
earning  very  little.  The  man  was  a  barber  by  trade.  $10.00 
was  given  because  it  was  Saturday  and  they  said  that  they  had 
no  food  and  no  money.  On  a  re-application  they  were  referred 
to  the  Charity  Organization  Society,  as  their  difficulties  were 
not  really  due  to  the  fire.  ,($io-Oo) 

Except  for  the  $30.00  spent  in  these  three  cases,  the  first 
item  in  the  table  on  page  16  ($7,842.35)  was  spent  for  families 
in  which  some  one  had  sustained  some  physical  injury,  rang- 
ing from  the  slightest  shock  to  paralysis  from  which  there  is  no 
hope  of  recovery,  or  for  families  living  so  close  to  the  verge  of 
dependence  that  the  loss  of  clothing  created  a  serious  financial 
embarrassment.  The  circumstances  in  each  of  these  69  families, 
and  the  action  taken,  are  described  briefly  below.  They  are 
arranged  according  to  the  amount  of  the  appropriation,  which 
indicates  in  a  general  way  the  seriousness  of  the  injury  sustained, 
beginning  with  the  smallest  amount  ($20.00)  and  ending  with  the 
largest  ($1,000.00). 

No.  212.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  17,  temporarily  incapaci- 
tated. She  lived  in  a  comfortable  home,  with  her  father  (a  car- 
penter who  had  been  out  of  work  several  months),  her  mother, 
and  two  sisters,  one  of  whom  was  working.  $20.00  was  given 
to  replace  clothing.  In  October  the  family  seemed  to  be  in 
prosperous  circumstances.  ($20.00) 

18 


WASHINGTON   PLACE   FIRE 

No.  47.  (Italian.)  A  married  woman  of  35,  injured  very 
slightly.  Her  husband  was  working  steadily  at  $8.00  a  week. 
They  had  only  one  child  (named  Italo  Americo)  who  was  with 
his  grandparents  in  Italy.  When  the  woman  asked  for  assistance 
on  April  5  she  had  already  recovered,  and  expected  to  return  to 
work  at  once.  $25.00  was  given,  April  12,  to  reimburse  her  for 
clothing  lost  in  the  fire.  She  was  not  satisfied  with  this  amount 
and  returned  later  to  ask  for  more.  In  October  it  was  learned 
that  her  husband  was  the  lessee  of  the  entire  house- which  she  had 
given  as  their  address  and  made  an  ample  income  by  subletting 
the  store  and  apartments.  ($25.00) 

No.  214.  (Hungarian.)  A  married  woman,  31  years  old, 
claimed  to  be  still  incapacitated  by  the  shock  a  month  after  the 
fire,  but  seemed  quite  well.  She  lived  in  a  comfortable  home 
with  her  husband  and  his  brother,  and  her  bed-ridden  mother. 
The  two  men  were  working.  $25.00  was  given  to  replace  cloth- 
ing. In  October  the  home  still  gave  the  appearance  of  unusual 
comfort  but  the  woman  asked  for  help  on  the  ground  that  she  was 
not  well  and  that  her  ill-health  was  due  to  the  fire.  A  report 
from  her  physician,  however,  indicated  clearly  that  he  did  not 
consider  that  there  was  any  connection.  ($25.00) 

No.  216.  (Italian.)  A  married  woman  of  21  suffered  a  mis- 
carriage in  consequence  of  the  accident.  She  and  her  husband 
were  living  with  relatives.  Her  husband  was  not  employed  at 
the  time  but  he  usually  worked.  She  was  receiving  medical 
treatment  from  a  dispensary.  $25.00  was  given  her  for  clothing 
and  she  was  sent  to  the  country  through  the  Association  for  Im- 
proving the  Condition  of  the  Poor  but  stayed  only  two  days.  In 
October  she  was  in  good  health  and  both  she  and  her  husband 
were  working.  ($27.37) 

No.  199.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  19,  not  injured,  lost  glasses 
and  clothing.  She  lived,  with  her  mother  and  two  younger 
sisters,  in  the  same  apartment  with  another  family,  and  in  their 
circumstances  the  loss  was  rather  a  serious  matter.  $30.00  was 
given,  April  28,  to  replace  the  glasses  and  clothing.     ($30.00) 

No.  213.  (Native-born  family.)  A  girl  of  19,  injured  in 
escaping  by  the  stairs.  The  father  and  mother  were  born  in 
New  York.  The  father,  a  longshoreman,  was  disabled  by  rheu- 
matism; the  mother  was  janitress;  three  of  the  four  children 
were  wage-earners.  $40.00  was  given  through  the  Brooklyn 
Bureau  of  Charities  to  reimburse  the  family  for  wages  lost  while 
the  girl  was  incapacitated.  ($40.00) 

No.  125.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  21,  burned  on  right  hand 
and  ear.  She  was  the  oldest  of  four  daughters,  living  with  their 
parents  in  apparent  comfort.  The  total  income  of  the  family 
while  this  daughter  was  incapacitated,  was  $22.00  a  week. 
$50.00  was  given  on  April  7,  towards  expenses  of  medical  care, 
and  unsuccessful  efforts  were  made  to  persuade  the  girl  to  go  to 
the  country.  In  October  it  was  found  that  all  the  members  of  the 
family  were  working  except  the  mother,  their  combined  income 
amounting  to  $33.00  a  week.  The  girl  who  had  been  in  the  fire 
had  entirely  recovered,  but  she  was  unwilling  to  work  in  a  large 

19 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

factory,  preferring  to  earn  less.  The  home  was  comfortable  and 
the  mother  made  no  suggestion  that  further  assistance  was  de- 
sired. ($50.00) 

No.  145.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  17,  not  injured  and  back  at 
work  within  a  week.  No  assistance  seemed  to  be  needed  at 
the  time  of  the  fire,  but  in  October  it  was  found  that  she  had  not 
been  able  to  replace  the  winter  clothing  which  she  had  lost  in  the 
fire,  and  $50.00  was  accordingly  given  to  her  to  meet  this  need. 

($50.00) 

No.  146.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  19,  the  second  of  six  children, 
was  temporarily  incapacitated  by  the  shock.  The  father  was  a 
cripple  and  did  not  work,  but  there  were  three  other  wage- 
earners.  $50.00  was  given  for  clothing  and  to  enable  the  girl  to 
go  to  the  country  for  two  weeks.  She  was  sent  to  a  convalescent 
home  through  another  agency.  In  October  she  was  well  and 
working  regularly,  and  there  was  no  evidence  of  need  in  the  home. 

($50.00) 

No.  147.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  18,  the  second  in  a  family  of 
nine  children,  was  temporarily  incapacitated  by  shock.  $50.00 
was  given  to  provide  her  with  clothing  and  enable  her  to  go  to 
the  country  for  two  weeks,  and  arrangements  were  made  for  her 
to  go,  but  her  father  would  not  consent  to  it.  In  October  she  was 
well  and  working  regularly.  The  family  income  was  about 
$25.00  a  week,  which  they  considered  ample.  ($50.00) 

No.  188.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  18,  incapacitated  for  two  or 
three  weeks  by  the  shock,  the  second  of  seven  children  and  the 
source  of  over  one-third  the  family  income.  $50.00  was  given 
on  April  12  to  replace  clothing  and  to  reimburse  the  family  for 
the  wages  which  had  been  lost.  ($50.00) 

No.  190.  (Austrian.)  A  girl  of  22,  forelady  earning  $15.00 
a  week,  temporarily  incapacitated  by  the  shock.  She  was  the 
oldest  of  three  children,  all  wage-earners.  The  father  had  been 
a  farmer  in  Austria.  He  had  been  here  only  one  year  and  was 
not  yet  earning  anything,  but  the  family  was  apparently  in  com- 
fortable circumstances.  $50.00  was  given  to  cover  any  tem- 
porary embarrassment  caused  by  the  loss  of  wages  at  the  Pass- 
over season.  In  October  it  was  learned  that  the  father  had 
opened  a  grocery  store  and  all  were  doing  well.  ($50.00) 

No.  193.  (Italian.)  A  married  woman  of  32,  escaped  with 
contusions  and  shock.  Her  husband,  a  carpenter,  worked  irregu- 
larly. There  was  a  daughter  of  16  earning  $4.00  a  week,  a  boy 
of  12,  and  a  10-year-old  girl  in  Italy  with  relatives.  $50.00  was 
given,  to  cover  wage  loss  until  the  woman  should  recover  her 
health.  ($50.00) 

No.  198.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  18,  slightly  injured.  She 
had  been  in  New  York  only  six  months  and  lived  with  an  uncle. 
A  married  brother  had  just  come  over  and  was  at  the  time  de- 
pendent on  the  same  uncle.  Her  father  and  mother  and  three 
younger  children  were  in  Italy  and  she  had  sent  them  some  of 
her  earnings.     $50.00  was  given  to  enable  her  to  get  well  and  to 

20 


WASHINGTON   PLACE  FIRE 

replace  clothing  that  had  been  burned.     She  was   not  willing 
to  go  to  the  country.     In  October  she  was  well  and  at  work. 

($50.oo) 

No.  207.  (Hungarian.)  A  girl  of  17,  bruised — not  seri- 
ously— in  escaping  over  the  roof.  Her  mother  and  father  and 
seven  brothers  and  sisters  were  in  Hungary  and  her  only  relative 
here  was  an  aunt,  with  whom  she  was  not  living.  $50.00  was 
given  on  April  2 1  to  cover  wage-loss  while  she  was  incapacitated. 
She  returned  in  May  to  ask  for  more  assistance,  but  she  was  en- 
tirely recovered  at  that  time.  ($50.00) 

No.  208.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  20,  the  only  support  of  her 
mother  and  two  younger  sisters,  slightly  incapacitated  by 
nervousness.  The  father  was  in  Italy,  sick,  and  an  older  daugh- 
ter was  with  him.  This  girl  still  had  $2.00  of  her  savings  left 
when  she  asked  for  help  a  month  after  the  fire.  ($50.00) 

No.  211.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  19,  temporarily  incapaci- 
tated. She  was  living  with  her  brother's  family  and  sent  money 
regularly  to  her  father  in  Italy.  $50.00  was  given  on  April  26 
and  an  offer  was  made  to  arrange  for  a  week  in  the  country  but 
this  was  not  accepted.  ($50.00) 

No.  215.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  21,  living  with  her  married 
brother,  incapacitated  by  nervous  shock.  As  the  brother's 
family  was  under  the  care  of  the  Association  for  Improving  the 
Condition  of  the  Poor,  that  society  was  requested  to  take  charge. 
$50.00  was  given  in  lieu  of  her  wages  while  she  was  unable  to 
work.  The  Association  tried  to  persuade  her  to  go  to  the  coun- 
try but  could  not  succeed.  ($50.00) 

No.  220.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  18,  incapacitated  by  cut 
hand  and  hysterical  condition,  asked  for  help  by  sending  an 
affidavit  six  weeks  after  the  fire.  She  lived  with  her  mother  and 
three  brothers  and  sisters,  two  of  whom  were  employed  at  good 
wages.  $50.00  was  given  through  the  United  Hebrew  Charities 
to  enable  her  to  go  to  the  country.  In  November  it  was  re- 
ported that  her  health  was  restored  and  the  family  income  was 
$37.00  per  week.  ($50.00) 

No.  210.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  18,  the  principal  support 
of  her  father  and  mother,  anaemic  and  suffering  from  nervous 
shock.  $50.00  was  given  in  order  that  she  might  go  to  the  coun- 
try. She  would  stay  only  six  days  because  she  wanted  to  be  at 
home  to  see  her  sister  start  for  Italy.  ($55-8i) 

No.  121.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  17,  slightly  incapacitated  by 
the  shock.  She  boarded  with  fellow-countrymen  and  had  a 
brother  living  in  Providence.  The  father  and  mother  and  three 
sisters  were  in  Russia.  $60.00  was  given  to  cover  wage-loss 
while  she  was  incapacitated.  ($60.00) 

No.  206.  (Native-born  Negro.)  A  colored  woman,  24 
years  old,  maid  in  one  of  the  cloak-rooms.  Her  health  was 
affected  by  the  experience.  She  is  separated  from  her  husband 
and  her  one  child  lives  with  his  grand-parents.     $35.00  was 

21 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

given  on  April  25.  In  November  it  was  found  that  she  had  been 
able  to  return  to  work  only  a  few  weeks  before  and  was  a  little 
in  debt.  $25.00  was  therefore  given,  which  covered  this  in- 
debtedness and  left  something  for  winter  clothing.         ($60.00) 

No.  196.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  19,  incapacitated  for  a  short 
time  by  the  shock.  She  was  the  only  wage-earner  at  the  time, 
as  her  father,  a  stone-mason,  had  been  out  of  work  for  seven 
months,  and  the  three  other  children  were  under  twelve.  $50.00 
was  given  April  14,  to  cover  wage-loss  and  replace  clothing;  and 
she  was  sent  to  the  country  at  a  cost  of  $12.67  for  board  and 
railroad  fare.  ($62.67) 

No.  197.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  19,  incapacitated  for  a  short 
time  by  the  shock.  She  was  the  housekeeper  for  her  father  and 
two  brothers,  and  also  at  the  time  their  chief  support,  for  the 
father  worked  only  irregularly  as  a  day  laborer,  one  brother  was 
only  14  years  old  and  was  just  beginning  to  work,  and  the  other 
was  out  of  work  because  he  could  not  find  employment  at  wages 
he  considered  suitable.  $50.00  was  given  on  April  14,  to  cover 
wage-loss  and  replace  clothing;  and  she  was  sent  to  the  country 
at  a  cost  of  $12.67  f°r  board  and  railroad  fare.  ($62.67) 

No.  178.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  19  escaped  with  nervous 
shock.  She  was  the  only  wage-earner  among  six  children  and  her 
father  was  out  of  work  at  the  time.  She  was  sent  to  the  country, 
where  she  stayed  for  over  two  weeks,  and  $50.00  was  given  to 
make  up  the  loss  of  her  wages.  ($65.24) 

No.  164.  (Russian.)  A  boy  of  18,  injured  in  the  knee. 
He  was  sent  to  a  clinic  for  examination  and  treatment  and  money 
was  given  him  for  living  expenses.  Later  he  was  sent  to  the  Loeb 
Memorial  Home  for  over  three  weeks.  On  his  return  temporary 
help  was  given  through  the  Joint  Application  Bureau  until  he 
found  work  and  a  place  to  live.  In  November  he  was  well  and 
working  regularly.  ($65.52) 

No.  56.  (Russian.)  A  young  man  of  21,  bruised  and  suf- 
fering from  shock.  His  sister,  20  years  old,  escaped  uninjured 
and  immediately  went  to  work  elsewhere.  The  rest  of  the  family 
consisted  of  their  widowed  mother  and  five  younger  children, 
two  of  whom  were  wage-earners.  The  total  income  from  the  four 
working  children  was  usually  over  $30.00  a  week.  $75.00  was 
given  to  help  with  the  living  expenses  while  the  son  was  disabled. 
In  October  all  were  in  good  health  and  the  family  income  was 
$43.00  a  week.  ($75-<*>) 

No.  204.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  19,  the  oldest  of  seven  chil- 
dren, temporarily  incapacitated  by  nervous  condition.  $75.00 
was  given  through  the  Brooklyn  Bureau  of  Charities.  ($75.00) 

No.  195.  (Italian.)  Two  girls,  21  and  19,  the  only  wage- 
earners  in  a  family  of  eight,  incapacitated  by  shock  for  a  short 
time.  $50.00  was  given  to  cover  wage-loss  for  two  weeks  and  the 
two  girls  were  sent  to  the  country,  at  a  cost  of  $25.33  for  board 
and  railroad  fare.  In  October  the  girls  were  well  and  at  work 
and  the  third  child  had  begun  to  contribute  to  the  family  income. 

22 


WASHINGTON   PLACE   FIRE 

The  two  girls  were  said  to  be  nervous  still  and  timid  about  con- 
tinuing in  factory  work.  In  December  a  physician  asked  help 
for  the  family  because  of  a  case  of  pneumonia.  As  all  need  aris- 
ing from  the  fire  had  already  been  met,  the  family  was  referred 
to  the  Charity  Organization  Society.  ($75-33) 

No.  107.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  19,  uninjured  but  in  nervous 
condition,  the  second  of  five  children.  The  father  works  only 
irregularly;  the  mother  earns  their  rent  as  housekeeper;  the 
oldest  child,  a  son,  was  earning  $18.00  a  week  but  contributing 
only  $4.00  to  the  home.  The  girl  was  sent  to  the  country  where 
she  stayed  nearly  three  weeks  and  $60.00  was  given  for  clothing, 
and  to  cover  wage-loss  while  she  was  away.  ($76.95) 

No.  108.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  19,  uninjured  except  for 
nervous  shock.  She  was  living  with  her  mother,  older  sister, 
who  had  been  out  of  work,  and  a  good-for-nothing  brother.  She 
was  sent  to  the  country  with  her  friend  in  the  preceding  family, 
and  she  stayed  the  same  length  of  time.  $60.00  was  given  also. 
In  October  it  was  said  that  she  had  not  entirely  recovered  from 
her  nervous  condition,  but  she  was  working  regularly  and  there 
was  apparently  no  thought  of  additional  assistance.     ($76.95) 

No.  175.  (Galician.)  A  girl  of  18  was  slightly  injured  and 
a  little  hysterical.  The  family  in  New  York  consisted  of  the 
father,  48  years  old,  who  described  himself  as  dependent  on  his 
daughters  because  of  his  old  age;  two  wage-earning  daughters; 
and  two  boys  in  school.  The  mother  was  in  Galicia  and  a  son 
was  serving  in  a  European  army.  $100.00  was  given  to  replace 
clothing  the  girl  had  lost  and  to  help  the  family  through  the 
short  interval  while  she  was  not  in  condition  to  work.  ($100.00) 

No.  187.  (Italian.)  Two  girls,  20  and  16,  uninjured,  but 
hysterical  and  nervous.  They  live  in  Hoboken  with  their  mother 
and  brother,  who  has  a  small  store.  Their  father  is  in  Italy,  ill 
with  tuberculosis.  $50.00  was  given  on  April  10  for  medicine, 
clothing  and  other  incidental  expenses.  When  a  visit  was  made 
in  November  it  was  found  that  the  girls  were  still  in  a  nervous 
condition  and  under  a  physician's  care.  One  of  them  had  mar- 
ried: her  family  urging  it  because  she  could  not  work;  her  suitor, 
because  he  expected  she  would  receive  a  large  appropriation 
from  the  Red  Cross  fund.  He  is  able  to  support  her,  however. 
It  seemed  advisable  to  make  a  further  grant  to  the  unmarried 
girl,  since  at  present  she  is  dependent  on  her  brother,  who  has 
also  his  mother  to  support.  ($100.00) 

No.  171.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  22  escaped  with  nervous 
shock.  $102.00  in  all  was  given  through  the  Brooklyn  Bureau 
of  Charities.  ($102.00) 

No.  176.  (Italian.)  A  married  woman  of  34,  four  months 
pregnant,  suffered  from  nervous  shock  and  was  bruised  by  falls 
in  going  down  the  fire  escape.  Her  husband,  a  carpenter,  did  not 
work  regularly.  She  had  two  small  children,  one  of  whom  died  a 
few  days  after  the  fire.  $60.00  was  given  in  April  to  help  the 
family  until  the  husband  should  get  work.  In  July  the  woman 
asked  for  more  aid,  but  the  troubles  of  the  family  at  that  time 

23 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

had  no  connection  with  the  fire.  Advice  was  given  about 
medical  care  and  the  husband  was  referred  to  the  National  Em- 
ployment Exchange.  When  a  visit  was  made  in  October  it  was 
learned  that  the  baby  had  been  born  in  September  and  both 
mother  and  child  were  in  good  condition.  A  final  grant  of 
$50.00  was  made  to  enable  the  mother  to  give  the  baby  proper 
care  through  its  first  months.  ($110.00) 

No.  159.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  23  was  incapacitated  tem- 
porarily by  the  shock  and  said  to  be  in  need  of  a  rest.  $111.00 
was  given  through  the  Brooklyn  Bureau  of  Charities  to  meet 
the  expenses  of  her  illness.  ($111.00) 

No.  79.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  19  injured  by  falling  from  one 
landing  to  another  on  the  fire  escape.  She  had  a  younger  sister 
in  the  city  who  was  self-supporting,  and  a  little  brother  and 
sister  with  relatives  in  Russia,  to  whom  the  girls  sent  about 
$10.00  a  month.  She  was  not  seriously  injured.  $122.00  was 
given  to  cover  expenses  while  she  was  incapacitated  and  to 
supply  necessary  clothing.  She  would  not  accept  convalescent 
care,  and  delayed  returning  to  work  in  the  hope  of  securing  more 
money.  Her  landlady,  who  had  cared  for  her  after  the  accident 
as  if  she  were  her  own  daughter,  considered  her  attitude  un- 
reasonable. In  October  it  was  learned  that  she  was  well,  working 
regularly,  and  planning  to  be  married  soon.  ($122.00) 

No.  205.  (United  States  Negro.)  A  colored  woman,  35 
years  old,  maid  in  one  of  the  cloak-rooms.  Her  hands  were  cut 
by  breaking  in  a  window,  and  she  was  injured  by  falling  down 
the  fire-escape.  She  lived  with  a  sister  here.  She  said  she  had 
never  been  married,  but  that  she  had  two  children,  whose  father 
was  dead,  living  with  her  mother  in  Virginia.  $35.00  was  given 
in  April  to  cover  expenses  until  her  hands  were  healed,  in  the 
expectation  that  nothing  further  would  be  needed.  In  Novem- 
ber it  was  learned  that  she  was  in  wretched  health,  and  the 
physician  who  examined  her  thought  her  condition  might  be 
traceable  to  her  fall  at  the  fire.  She  was  placed  under  the  care 
of  the  Charity  Organization  Society  and  $100.00  was  sent  to 
that  society  for  her.  On  January  26  she  returned  to  her  mother 
in  Virginia,  much  improved  in  health.  ($  135.25) 

No.  194.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  16,  the  oldest  of  eleven  chil- 
dren, and  the  contributor  of  about  half  the  income  of  the  family 
of  thirteen,  was  incapacitated  by  nervous  shock.  $125.00  was 
given  for  clothing  and  to  make  up  wage-loss,  and  convalescent 
care  was  provided  for  the  girl  after  Easter,  as  her  family  would 
not  allow  her  to  leave  home  before  that.  When  the  family 
was  seen  in  October  they  considered  themselves  in  prosperous 
circumstances,  as  this  daughter  was  in  good  health  and  earning 
her  usual  wages,  and  the  third  child  had  secured  working  papers 
and  was  adding  $4.00  to  the  weekly  income.  ($  135.94) 

No.  172.  (Italian.)  A  married  woman,  five  months  preg- 
nant, escaped  with  nervous  shock.  She  and  her  husband  live 
with  a  family  of  relatives.  On  account  of  her  physical  condition 
$150.00  was  given  in  a  pension  through  the  Brooklyn  Bureau  of 
Charities.  ($150.00) 

24 


WASHINGTON   PLACE   FIRE 

No.  189.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  24,  the  only  support  of  her 
mother  and  an  old  aunt,  escaped  with  bruises.  $50.00  was  given 
on  April  11.  In  October  it  was  found  that  the  girl  had  not 
worked  so  steadily  as  usual  through  the  summer  because  of  being 
in  a  nervous  condition,  and  an  additional  grant  of  $50.00  was 
made.  In  January  the  girl  wrote  that  her  aunt  had  pneumonia 
and  that  she  herself  was  not  able  to  work.  What  she  considered 
especially  distressing  was  that  the  aunt  was  in  a  hospital  because 
they  could  not  afford  to  keep  her  at  home.  The  Charity  Organ- 
ization Society  was  asked  to  secure  a  thorough  medical  examina- 
tion of  the  girl  and  advise  as  to  further  assistance.  Medical  treat- 
ment was  persistently  declined.  A  final  grant  of  $50.00  was  made 
through  the  Charity  Organization  Society,  to  pay  debts  that  had 
been  incurred  during  the  girl's  illness.  ($150.00) 

No.  133.  (Galician.)  A  girl  of  21,  injured.  Her  cousin 
and  room-mate  was  killed.  The  two  girls  boarded  with  an 
uncle.  She  sent  $20.00  a  month  to  her  parents  and  six  brothers 
and  sisters  in  Galicia.  She  was  injured  by  falling  down  the  fire- 
escape  and  was  prostrated  by  the  shock.  $140.00  was  given  to 
cover  her  own  expenses  while  she  was  incapacitated  and  to  enable 
her  to  continue  without  interruption  her  usual  contribution  to 
her  parents;  and  she  was  sent  to  the  Loeb  Memorial  Home  for 
over  three  weeks.  When  she  left  the  convalescent  home  at  the 
end  of  May  the  superintendent  reported  that  she  was  "in  perfect 
health."  The  uncle  was  seen  in  October,  and  he  said  that  she 
was  well  and  working  at  her  usual  wages.  ($157.14) 

No.  10.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  18  was  injured,  but  not  seri- 
ously. She  and  her  mother  had  come  to  New  York  eighteen 
months  before  the  fire,  hoping  to  improve  the  circumstances 
of  the  family,  and  especially  to  provide  for  educating  a  13-year- 
old  boy  who  was  in  Italy  with  his  father,  a  post-office  employee. 
Temporary  assistance  amounting  to  $165.00  was  given,  covering 
doctor's  bills  and  living  expenses  until  the  girl  had  entirely  re- 
covered and  the  mother  had  returned  to  work.  In  October  it 
was  found  that  the  mother  and  daughter  had  moved,  leaving 
the  impression  among  their  neighbors  that  they  had  gone  to 
Italy  to  celebrate  the  daughter's  wedding  in  Rome.  In  De- 
cember she  was  married  and  living  in  New  York.      ($165.00) 

No.  177.  (Italian.)  A  married  woman  of  30  escaped  with 
nervous  shock.  Her  husband  was  in  Italy,  sick,  and  she  sup- 
ported her  old  crippled  mother  and  her  child  of  four.  It  was 
not  possible  to  arrange  for  the  convalescent  care  which  her 
physical  condition  indicated,  because  the  old  mother  could 
neither  go  away  nor  be  left  alone.  Assistance  was  therefore 
given  so  that  they  might  move  into  better  rooms  and  the  woman 
have  a  rest  at  home,  and  the  Charity  Organization  Society  was 
asked  to  visit  and  advise  as  to  further  needs.  $75.00  was  given 
to  the  woman  direct,  and  $101.00  through  the  Charity  Organiza- 
tion Society.  In  November  she  was  working  regularly  and  ap- 
parently had  recovered  her  normal  health.  ($176.00) 

No.  170.  (Roumanian.)  A  girl  of  20  was  injured  about  the 
head  and  right  arm  by  jumping.  She  was  the  principal  wage- 
earner  in  the  family,  the  oldest  of  five  children.     The  father  was 

25 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

considered  too  old  to  work,  and  the  two  younger  sisters  of  work- 
ing age  earned  only  small  wages.  The  oldest  daughter  had  come 
to  America  five  years  before  and  later  sent  for  her  two  sisters. 
They  soon  sent  for  their  father  and  a  little  later  for  their  mother 
and  the  two  youngest  children.  When  these  arrived,  however, 
one  of  the  children  was  not  admitted  on  account  of  trachoma, 
and  the  mother  was  obliged  to  take  him  back  to  Roumania. 
The  daughters  again  saved  enough  to  bring  her  over,  but  the 
boy's  eyes  were  not  yet  cured,  and  he  is  still  in  Roumania,  sup- 
ported by  his  sisters  in  New  York.  $185.00  in  all  was  given  for 
medical  expenses  and  to  make  up  for  the  girl's  wages  until  she  re- 
covered. In  October  the  family  was  found  in  comfortable  cir- 
cumstances, all  three  girls  working  regularly.  In  November 
the  father  asked  for  assistance  because  his  wife  was  ill,  but  the 
family  did  not  seem  to  be  in  any  need  and  there  was  no  connec- 
tion between  this  illness  and  the  fire.  ($185.00) 

No.  192.  (Russian.)  A  young  married  woman,  23  years 
old,  badly  bruised  and  nervously  affected.  She  had  recently  had 
an  operation  for  appendicitis.  Her  husband,  a  silk  weaver, 
works  steadily  but  earns  only  $10.00  a  week  and  has  heavy  ex- 
penses for  car-fare.  There  are  no  children.  $100.00  was  given 
on  April  20  to  enable  the  woman  to  regain  her  health.  In  Oc- 
tober she  was  found  looking  ill  and  still  unable  to  work.  A 
medical  examination  was  secured  and  the  physician  recom- 
mended only  rest  and  change.  An  offer  was  accordingly  made 
to  send  her  to  the  country,  but  this  was  not  accepted.  An  addi- 
tional grant  of  $100.00  was  made.  ($200.00) 

No.  95.  (Russian.)  A  married  man,  35  years  old,  a  night 
watchman,  injured — not  seriously — by  sliding  down  the  ele- 
vator rope.  He  had  a  wife  and  two  small  children  and  his 
wife  was  pregnant.  Emergency  help  was  given  and  a  weekly 
allowance  of  $10.00  for  three  months.  His  injuries  from  the  fire 
were  soon  healed,  but  his  health  was  impaired  from  other  causes. 
Efforts  were  made  to  persuade  him  to  take  the  hospital  treat- 
ment which  was  advised,  but  he  persistently  refused.  He  re- 
peatedly asked  for  further  relief,  especially  for  a  large  sum  to 
invest  in  business.  In  October  he  was  still  idle  and  in  miserable 
health.  His  wife  also  was  not  yet  strong,  as  the  baby  had  been 
born  in  August.  Since  their  circumstances  had  no  connection 
with  the  fire,  all  needs  due  to  that  having  been  fully  met,  a 
final  small  grant  for  immediate  needs  was  made  and  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities  was  requested  to  take  charge  of  the  family. 

($206.00) 

No.  166.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  21  was  injured.  She  was 
living  with  her  widowed  mother  and  three  sisters,  two  of  whom 
were  wage-earners.  Temporary  assistance  amounting  to  $100.00 
was  given  and  then,  as  the  girl  had  not  yet  recovered  and  was 
not  following  her  doctor's  advice,  the  United  Hebrew  Charities 
was  asked  to  take  charge.  Treatment  and  apparatus  were  pro- 
vided ;  an  allowance  was  made  to  the  family  in  lieu  of  her  wages 
until  she  returned  to  work  in  September;  and  a  final  grant  was 
given  to  her  for  clothing.  $100.00  was  given  to  the  family 
direct,  and  $120.00  through  the  United  Hebrew  Charities. 

($220.00) 

26 


WASHINGTON   PLACE  FIRE 

No.  96.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  18  was  incapacitated  by 
nervous  shock.  She  is  the  second  of  four  children  and  her 
mother  is  a  widow.  Her  older  sister  is  not  strong  and  therefore 
does  not  work  regularly.  On  the  recommendation  of  the  Brook- 
lyn Bureau  of  Charities  $250.00  was  placed  with  them  to  be 
used  as  a  pension  while  the  girl  was  not  able  to  work.  In  Oc- 
tober she  was  entirely  recovered  and  three  of  the  four  children 
were  working,  earning  together  $20.00  a  week.  Later  the  girl 
returned  to  the  employ  of  the  Triangle  Shirt  Waist  Company  at 
her  former  wages.  ($250.00) 

No.  203.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  22,  the  only  wage-earner  in  a 
family  of  seven,  incapacitated  by  the  shock.  The  father  was  ill, 
in  need  of  surgical  treatment  which  he  would  not  consent  to 
have.  The  family  was  placed  under  the  care  of  the  Charity 
Organization  Society,  and  the  girl  was  sent  to  the  country,  but 
she  stayed  only  half  a  day  at  the  first  place  to  which  she  was 
sent  and  six  days  at  the  second.  $250.00  was  sent  to  the  Charity 
Organization  Society  for  the  benefit  of  the  family.  In  October 
the  girl  was  well  and  at  work,  but  still  nervous  about  working 
in  a  factory.  The  father  was  also  working  regularly,  but  had  not 
yet  been  persuaded  to  have  the  needed  operation.       ($255.81) 

No.  200.  (Native-born.)  A  man  of  57,  on  duty  in  the 
Asch  Building  the  night  after  the  fire,  seriously  injured  by  a 
falling  beam.  The  family  had  lived  comfortably  on  his  wages 
and  those  of  the  son  of  2 1 ,  who  was  a  clerk,  with  a  lodger  to  help 
pay  the  rent.  A  daughter,  24  years  old,  was  studying  art  in 
Boston.  The  company  for  which  the  man  worked  does  not  make 
any  allowance  to  its  employes  in  case  of  accident  or  sickness. 
A  monthly  allowance  equal  to  his  wages  was  given  until  his 
health  was  restored  and  the  doctor's  bill,  a  very  moderate  one 
in  view  of  the  amount  of  attention  it  represented,  was  paid.  On 
visiting  in  November  it  was  learned  that  he  is  entirely  recovered 
and  has  established  a  business  on  his  own  account,  in  which  he 
is  already  clearing  more  money  than  he  used  to  receive  in  wages. 

($285.00) 

No.  218.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  22,  the  only  support  of  her 
mother  and  young  brother,  incapacitated  for  some  time  by  the 
shock.  $325.00  was  given  through  the  Brooklyn  Bureau  of 
Charities.  ($325.00) 


No.  52.  (Italian.)  A  widow  of  28,  seriously  injured.  At 
the  time  of  the  accident  her  13-year-old  daughter  was  living 
with  her,  and  her  two  little  boys  were  in  an  institution.  $127.50 
was  given  in  April  in  the  expectation  that  this  would  be  sufficient 
to  meet  the  needs  of  the  family  until  the  woman  should  be  able 
to  work.  In  August  she  applied  for  the  commitment  of  her  two 
boys  who  had  returned  to  her  in  June,  and  in  consequence  of  this 
the  family  came  under  the  care  of  the  Charity  Organization 
Society.  Later,  as  the  woman's  health  was  found  to  be  still 
seriously  affected  in  consequence  of  the  fire,  an  additional  grant 
of  $200.00  was  placed  with  the  Charity  Organization  Society 
for  her  benefit.  This  amount  was  based  upon  the  recommenda- 
tions and  prognosis  of  a  reliable  physician.  ($327.50) 

27 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

No.  153.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  20,  incapacitated  by  shock. 
She  had  supported  her  old  mother  ever  since  they  came  to  Amer- 
ica five  years  before  the  fire.  She  was  found  to  be  in  an  anaemic, 
undernourished  condition,  in  need  of  a  long  rest,  as  a  result  of 
over-work  through  the  preceding  five  years  and  several  illnesses, 
and  in  this  condition  the  shock  received  at  the  fire  was  of  more 
serious  significance  than  in  most  of  the  cases.  Money  was 
given  her  for  clothing  and  a  monthly  pension  through  the  sum- 
mer to  enable  her  and  her  mother  to  spend  five  months  in  the 
country.  She  returned  in  excellent  health,  but  showing  some 
disposition  not  to  work  regularly,  and  to  wish  continued  assist- 
ance, on  the  ground  that  other  girls  did  not  have  to  support  their 
mothers  without  help  from  any  source.  After  a  few  interviews, 
however,  she  seemed  to  recover  her  former  independence  and  on 
November  28  reported  that  she  was  regularly  employed  at 
$15.00  a  week  and  that,  while  she  greatly  appreciated  what  had 
been  done  for  her,  she  did  not  desire  any  further  attentions. 

($380.00) 

No.  179.  (Italian.)  A  married  man,  25  years  old,  one  of  the 
elevator  men.  He  sent  in  the  fire  alarm  and  made  seven  trips 
with  his  elevator  after  the  fire  broke  out,  running  it  until  the 
flames  broke  into  both  elevator  shafts.  He  returned  to  work 
after  the  fire,  but  his  health  proved  to  have  been  seriously  in- 
jured by  the  experience.  His  wife  was  pregnant  and  on  hearing 
of  the  fire  she  had  a  miscarriage.  They  have  one  child,  three 
years  old.  $100.00  was  given  on  April  13  in  the  expectation  that 
it  would  meet  the  needs  of  the  family  until  the  man  was  well. 
No  application  for  further  help  was  received,  but  when  a  visit 
was  made  in  October  it  was  found  that  he  was  ill  again,  after 
having  returned  to  work  for  a  short  time.  An  additional  $100.00 
was  therefore  given,  and  the  Charity  Organization  Society  was 
requested  to  take  charge  of  the  family  and  make  a  recommenda- 
tion as  to  their  probable  further  needs,  after  consultation  with 
the  physician,  with  the  result  that  $200.00  more  has  been  placed 
for  their  benefit  with  the  Charity  Organization  Society.  In 
February  the  man  was  well  and  able  to  work.  ($400.00) 

No.  186.  (Russian.)  A  married  man,  38,  a  packer,  badly 
bruised  and  strained  in  escaping  over  the  roof;  general  neuritis 
in  a  severe  form  developed  soon  after  the  accident.  His  wife  is  a 
capable,  attractive,  intelligent  woman,  a  dress-maker  by  trade, 
but  not  accustomed  to  work  regularly  since  marriage.  There  are 
four  children:  the  oldest,  a  boy  of  16,  had  just  started  to  work. 
$160.00  was  given  for  current  expenses,  and  $275.20  on  September 
7,  to  pay  transportation  expenses  to  Los  Angeles,  California, 
where  they  had  relatives  and  friends  who  would  help  them  to 
re-establish  themselves  and  where  it  was  hoped  the  man's  health 
would  improve.  A  letter  dated  February  2  states  that  his  health 
is  better  and  that  they  are  making  a  living.  ($435.20) 

No.  142.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  19,  seriously  injured:  left 
arm  and  leg  paralyzed  and  no  hope  of  recovery.  She  was  a 
favorite  niece  of  one  of  the  proprietors,  who  made  a  liberal 
weekly  allowance  for  her  care,  but  could  not  meet  the  expense  of 
all  her  needs.  Her  father  is  comparatively  well-to-do  and  has  a 
small  store.     $1000.00  was  sent  to  the  girl  through  the  Brooklyn 

28 


WASHINGTON   PLACE   FIRE 

Bureau  of  Charities  on  November  10,  to  enable  her  to  have  the 
care  which  her  condition  requires.  ($1000.00) 

Referring  again  to  the  table  on  page  16  it  will  be  seen 
that  $4,688.66  was  expended  in  temporary  assistance  in  the 
families  in  which  a  death  had  occurred.  Most  of  this  was  given 
in  addition  to  grants  for  other  purposes,  in  the  interval  while  in- 
formation was  being  secured  or  the  families  were  deciding  on 
their  plans,  or  for  temporary  needs  of  relatives  here  when  the 
main  problem  was  provision  for  relatives  in  Europe.  In  three 
cases,  however,  in  which  there  had  been  a  death,  circumstances 
were  such  that  it  did  not  seem  advisable  to  make  any  appropria- 
tion except  for  temporary  needs.  These  three  cases  were  the 
following : 

No.  35.  (Galician.)  A  girl  of  18  was  killed.  She  was  the 
second  of  seven  children,  all  living  at  home  with  their  father  and 
mother.  The  oldest  child  was  also  in  the  fire  and  her  health  was 
affected  by  the  shock  of  her  sister's  death.  The  girl  who  lost 
her  life  was  about  to  be  married,  and  the  family  therefore  was 
expecting  to  lose  her  financial  assistance  very  soon.  The  home 
gave  evidence  of  a  fair  degree  of  comfort.  $200.00  was  given  to 
cover  the  expense  of  sending  the  older  girl  to  the  country  and  to 
reimburse  the  family  for  the  loss  of  her  wages  while  she  was  in- 
capacitated. In  October  the  family  was  found  living  in  comfort; 
the  oldest  girl  had  entirely  recovered  and  was  working  regularly. 
In  January  she  called  to  say  that  she  had  been  ill  again,  but  as 
this  had  no  connection  with  the  fire  she  was  advised  to  apply  to 
the  United  Hebrew  Charities  if  her  family  needed  help. 

($200.00) 

No.  148.  (German,  Protestant.)  A  girl  of  17  was  killed. 
Her  father  was  a  piano  polisher  and  usually  earned  $18.00  or 
$20.00  per  week;  there  were  three  other  children,  all  of  working 
age;  the  mother  was  in  a  sanitarium.  There  was  $182.00  in- 
surance. At  first  they  did  not  wish  any  assistance,  but  later 
they  felt  the  loss  of  the  daughter's  wages,  and  $250.00  was  given 
them  on  May  25  through  the  Brooklyn  Bureau  of  Charities. 

($250.00) 

No.  135.  (Roumanian.)  A  girl  of  19  was  killed,  one  of 
seven  children,  all  living  with  their  parents.  The  father  was 
unable  to  work;  the  mother  was  janitress  and  earned  their  rent; 
three  children  were  wage-earners  besides  the  one  who  was  killed, 
but  she,  though  the  third  in  age,  earned  the  highest  wages. 
$300.00  was  given.  In  October  the  family  was  evidently  in 
comfortable  circumstances,  with  free  rent  and  a  weekly  income 
of  $23.00.  They  expressed  satisfaction  with  the  appropriation 
which  had  been  made.  ($300.00) 


29 


V 

Funeral  expenses  were  naturally  an  important  item :  $6,167.10 
was  spent  for  this  purpose,  about  7%  per  cent  of  the  total.  The 
Hebrew  Free  Burial  Society  came  promptly  to  the  aid  of  thirty 
of  the  more  needy  among  the  Jewish  families,  and  the  Union 
provided  for  about  an  equal  number  either  directly  or  through 
the  Arbeiter  Ring.  The  rest  were  buried  by  Lodges  to  which 
they  or  some  relative  belonged,  or  there  were  cousins  or  uncles  or 
nances  to  take  the  responsibility  if  the  immediate  family  were 
not  here  or  were  unable  to  do  so;  or  there  was  a  bank  account 
sufficient  to  cover  the  expenses.  In  only  one  instance  was  it 
necessary  for  the  Red  Cross  to  promise  in  advance  of  burial  to 
pay  the  undertaker's  bill.  The  question  of  reimbursement,  how- 
ever, began  to  be  raised  very  early  by  the  Italian  families,  and  in 
the  Jewish  cases  there  were  several  requests  for  tombstones  or  for 
reimbursement  of  additional  expenses  incurred  by  the  family 
when  the  burial  proper  had  been  provided  by  some  society.  The 
funeral  bills  among  the  Italians  ranged  from  $76.70  to  $345.80. 
The  maximum  paid  by  the  Red  Cross  towards  the  expense  of  any 
one  funeral  was  $150.00.  The  total  amount  spent  for  funeral 
bills  was  about  five  thousand  dollars,  and  in  addition  one  thousand 
dollars  was  paid  to  the  Hebrew  Burial  Society  to  reimburse  it 
for  its  expenses  in  thirty  cases.  Of  the  total  six  thousand  over 
two-thirds  was  expended  for  Italians,  although  the  number  of 
deaths  among  them  was  only  two-thirds  as  great  as  the  number 
among  the  Jewish  families  in  charge  of  the  Red  Cross. 

In  most  of  the  families  in  which  funeral  expenses  were  paid, 
appropriations  were  also  made  for  other  purposes,  in  equal  or 
larger  amounts.  There  were  four  cases,  however,  in  which  this 
was  the  only  form  of  assistance  given.-  Two  of  these  were  Italian, 
two  Jewish. 

No.  5.  (Italian.)  A  married  woman,  33  years  old,  was 
killed,  leaving  a  husband,  40  years  old,  but  no  children.  Her 
married  sister  was  killed  also.     (See  No.  25,  page  32.)     The 

30 


WASHINGTON   PLACE   FIRE 

husband  was  a  good  workman,  earning  $13.00  a  week  as  presser 
when  employed.  He  was  in  good  health,  and  expressed  no  desire 
for  any  assistance  except  the  amount  of  the  funeral  bill,  although 
other  persons  have  requested  for  him  a  substantial  appropriation 
to  set  him  up  in  business.  After  the  fire  he  went  to  live  with  his 
wife's  parents.  ($125.30) 

No.  65.  (Italian.)  A  girl  was  killed,  leaving  a  father  and 
mother  and  a  younger  brother  and  three  sisters.  The  funeral 
bill  was  the  largest  that  came  to  our  attention — $345.80,  and 
from  several  sources  it  was  reported  that  the  family  was  in  com- 
fortable circumstances  (though  the  father  was  a  porter  in  his 
son's  saloon  and  earned  only  $8.00  a  week)  and  that  this  daughter 
worked  only  because  she  liked  to.  $150.00  was  given  towards  the 
funeral  expenses.  No  further  application  has  been  received. 
When  the  family  was  visited  in  October  it  was  learned  from  the 
mother  that  the  oldest  child,  a  bright  boy,  was  taking  a  business 
course,  and  that  they  found  it  difficult  to  pay  the  fees  for  this. 
An  additional  grant  sufficient  to  meet  this  expense  was  offered, 
but  the  parents  have  not  cared  to  avail  themselves  of  it  and  have 
made  no  request  for  any  further  aid.  ($150.00) 

No.  141.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  18  was  killed.  She  had 
boarded  with  an  aunt  and  uncle  who  stated  that  there  was  no  one 
in  the  old  country  dependent  on  her,  and  who  asked  for  no  assist- 
ance except  a  small  grant  to  enable  them  to  erect  a  head-stone. 
The  Hebrew  Free  Burial  Society  had  arranged  for  the  funeral. 
$50.00  was  given  to  the  uncle  on  April  II.  In  January  it  was 
learned  that  the  uncle  had  not  used  the  money  for  a  tombstone, 
but  that  it  had  been  erected  by  other  relatives,  who  compelled 
him  to  adjust  matters  to  their  satisfaction  when  they  heard  of  the 
appropriation  that  had  been  made.  These  relatives  stated  that 
the  girl's  parents  in  Russia  were  suffering  from  the  cessation  of  her 
accustomed  contributions.  On  being  questioned  they  stated 
further  that  the  father  owns  a  little  farm;  that  the  girl  had  sent 
nothing  regularly,  but  only  small  gifts  at  holidays;  that  they  had 
not  heard  from  the  parents  since  the  fire;  but  that  another 
cousin  in  the  city  had  received  a  letter  saying  that  they  were  in 
great  distress.  They  were  requested  to  procure  this  letter  and 
send  it  to  us,  but  we  have  heard  nothing  further  from  them.  As 
the  cousin  who  was  said  to  have  received  the  letter  is  an  intelli- 
gent girl  who  was  herself  in  the  fire,  and  who  received  assistance 
from  the  Union  Committee  and  has  been  in  the  Red  Cross  office, 
it  seems  impossible  that  she  would  not  have  made  known  to  us 
the  circumstances  of  these  relatives  if  she  had  received  word  they 
were  in  need.  It  is  not  probable,  moreover,  that  the  parents 
themselves  would  not  have  found  a  way  to  send  an  application 
to  us  in  these  eleven  months.  We  are,  however,  making  inquiries 
in  Europe.  ($50.00) 

No.  33.  (Austrian.)  A  divorced  woman,  40  years  old,  in 
this  country  only  six  months,  was  killed.  She  lived  with  her 
brother  and  was  partially  dependent  on  him,  making  no  contribu- 
tion towards  the  support  of  any  one.  $150.00  was  given  to  reim- 
burse the  brother  for  expenses  of  the  burial.  ($150.00) 


31 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

There  were  five  other  families  in  which  the  only  assistance 
which  seemed  to  be  required  in  addition  to  the  payment  of  the 
funeral  expenses  was  a  grant  to  meet  some  temporary  need  or 
readjustment  in  family  plans: 

No.  138.  (Italian,  mother  German.)  A  girl  of  14  was 
killed,  one  of  seven  children.  The  father  and  three  oldest  chil- 
dren (sons)  supported  the  family.  The  girl  who  was  killed  had 
been  working  only  a  few  weeks,  and  earned  only  $3.00.  There 
was  insurance  amounting  to  $254.00.  $150.00  was  given  to- 
wards the  funeral  expenses,  and  $50.00  for  Easter.  In  October 
the  family  was  found  to  be  in  comfortable  circumstances  and  they 
made  no  request  for  additional  aid.  ($200.00) 

No.  66.  (Austrian.)  A  girl  of  17,  married,  deserted,  and 
living  with  her  parents,  died  in  a  hospital  from  injuries  received 
at  the  fire.  The  girl  had  been  seduced  at  the  age  of  14  by  a  man 
who  was  later  forced  by  his  relatives  to  marry  her.  He  deserted 
her;  a  baby  was  born,  which  died;  and  she  returned  to  her 
parents.  They  did  not  want  her  to  go  to  work,  but  she  was 
anxious  for  some  money  of  her  own,  and  she  had  been  working 
only  ten  days  when  the  disaster  occurred.  She  had  not  made  any 
contribution  to  the  family  income,  but  inasmuch  as  her  father 
had  been  obliged  to  borrow  money  for  the  funeral  expenses  and 
her  mother's  health  was  affected  by  the  shock  $210.00  in  all  was 
given  to  meet  these  needs.  The  father  was  regularly  employed 
in  the  Street-cleaning  Department  at  $14.00  a  week  and  their 
only  remaining  child  was  a  school-boy.  ($210.00) 

No.  25.  (Italian.)  A  married  woman,  22  years  old,  was 
killed,  leaving  a  husband  and  two  small  children.  She  was  a 
sister  of  the  married  woman  in  case  No.  5,  on  page  30.  It  was 
said  that  she  worked  because  her  husband  was  not  inclined  to 
contribute  largely  to  the  family  expenses,  though  he  was  a  ma- 
chinist earning  $15.00  a  week.  Funeral  expenses  were  paid,  and 
$110.00  was  given  to  the  woman's  mother  for  the  benefit  of  the 
children  and  to  enable  her  to  move  to  a  larger  apartment  which 
would  accommodate  her  son-in-law  and  the  children  and  the 
other  son-in-law.  The  husband  was  not  satisfied  with  the  action 
of  the  Committee.  He  took  his  children  away  from  their  grand- 
parents, and  wrote  demanding  that  the  money  which  had  been 
given  to  them  be  turned  over  to  him.  It  was  found  that  the  chil- 
dren were  suffering  from  neglect  and  he  was  advised  to  restore 
them  to  the  grandmother's  care.  In  October  a  satisfactory  state 
of  affairs  was  found:  the  father  working  regularly,  paying  the 
grandmother  for  taking  care  of  the  children  while  he  is  away, 
and  taking  care  of  them  himself  at  night.  ($235-3o) 

No.  32.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  16  was  killed.  She  left  a 
father  and  mother  and  four  brothers  and  sisters,  two  of  them 
wage-earners;  another  child  was  born  a  few  days  after  the  fire 
and  received  the  name  of  its  sister  who  had  just  been  lost.  The 
father  owned  a  grocery  store  in  Montclair,  in  partnership  with  his 
brother,  but  the  family  lived  on  the  lower  west  side.  $150.00  was 
given  towards  funeral  expenses,   $100.00  for  expenses  of  the 

32 


WASHINGTON   PLACE   FIRE 

mother's  illness.  In  November  the  family  was  found  in  Mont- 
clair  in  much  more  favorable  surroundings.  The  grocery  was 
fairly  prosperous  and  well  kept.  No  suggestion  was  made  that 
further  assistance  was  desired.  ($250.00) 

No.  99.  (Italian.)  A  girl  of  17  was  killed,  the  second  of 
six  children,  one  a  cripple.  Her  father,  a  baker,  though  able- 
bodied  and  only  45  years  old,  was  not  accustomed  to  work. 
Her  older  brother  earned  $8.00  a  week.  She  was  insured  for 
$250.00.  A  Settlement,  reporting  the  family,  stated  that  they 
were  "not  destitute  in  any  sense"  and  that  they  "had  some 
resources."  In  addition  to  the  funeral  expenses  of  $137.00, 
$135.15  was  spent  by  the  Brooklyn  Bureau  of  Charities  in  tem- 
porary assistance,  and  $100.00  was  given  to  the  family  through 
the  Italian  Consul-General.  ($372.15) 


33 


VI 

We  have  now  told  about  fourteen  of  the  94  families  in  charge 
of  the  Red  Cross  in  which  a  death  had  occurred :  in  two  of  them 
no  appropriation  has  been  made ;  in  three  only  temporary  assist- 
ance was  needed ;  in  four  funeral  expenses  only  were  paid ;  and 
in  five  temporary  assistance  was  given  in  addition  to  paying  the 
funeral  bills.  In  all  the  rest  of  these  94  families  (80)  it  has  seemed 
necessary,  or  at  least  proper,  to  make  provision  of  a  more  perma- 
nent nature  for  surviving  relatives.  The  appropriations  for  this 
purpose,  as  may  be  seen  by  referring  again  to  the  table  on  page  16, 
account  for  the  bulk  of  the  disbursements,  amounting  in  all  to 
$61,571.05,  which  is  over  three-fourths  of  the  total.  Of  this, 
$44,672.15  was  for  the  benefit  of  relatives  in  the  United  States, 
and  $16,898.90  for  the  benefit  of  relatives  in  other  countries — 
Russia,  Austria,  Hungary,  Roumania,  England,  Jamaica,  and 
Palestine. 

In  many  of  these  80  families  funeral  bills  were  paid  and 
temporary  assistance  was  given,  but  in  all  of  them  there  re- 
mained, after  this  was  done,  other  needs.  In  all  of  them  the 
family  had  been  dependent,  in  some  degree,  on  the  one  who  had 
been  killed.  In  some  the  dependence  was  only  slight,  or  it  was 
unnecessary;  in  others  it  was  absolute  and  inevitable.  Several 
families  were  left  disorganized  and  helpless  by  the  loss  of  a 
daughter  who  was  not  only  their  chief  financial  support  but  also 
their  reliance  in  other  ways.  Four  Jewish  men  left  wives  and 
children.  A  young  man  had  been  the  only  support  of  a  widowed 
mother  and  an  invalid  middle-aged  sister.  In  one  Italian  family 
there  were  three  deaths — the  mother  and  two  daughters — leaving 
the  father  and  two  sons,  nineteen  and  five  years  of  age.  In 
another  family  two  sisters  were  killed,  one  of  whom  was  a  widow 
with  five  little  children.  In  five  other  cases  two  sisters  lost  their 
lives  and  in  one  two  brothers;  while  the  death  of  a  widow  and 
her  seventeen-year-old  son  left  three  children  under  sixteen  years 
of  age  without  a  natural  guardian. 

34 


WASHINGTON   PLACE   FIRE 

In  three  of  these  80  families  dependents  were  left  both  here 
and  abroad;  in  40  of  them  the  dependents  were  in  the  United 
States  at  the  time  of  the  disaster,  and  in  37  they  were  in  other 
countries.  In  seven  cases  the  persons  left  dependent  in  the 
United  States  have  returned  to  Europe,  with  the  assistance  and 
the  approval  of  the  Red  Cross  Committee.  These  were  the 
sister  of  a  Hungarian  girl  (No.  77,  page  40) ;  a  young  Russian 
who  had  been  supported  by  his  wife  who  was  killed  (No.  75, 
page  36) ;  the  old  mother  of  an  Italian  woman  (No.  14,  page  44) ; 
and  four  Italian  families  (No.  84,  No.  100,  No.  17,  and  No.  57, 
pages  44,  45,  and  49).  On  the  other  hand  a  little  brother  has 
been  brought  over  from  Russia  (No.  82,  page  55)  and  it  is  not 
impossible  that  other  relatives  who  were  in  Europe  at  the  time  of 
the  disaster  have  come  to  New  York  since  then.  The  classifica- 
tion has  been  made  on  the  basis  of  residence  at  the  time  when 
the  appropriations  were  made. 

The  three  in  which  grants  were  made  to  relatives  both  here 
and  abroad  are  the  following: 

No.  21.  (English.)  A  young  married  woman  of  26  died 
from  the  effect  of  injuries  received  in  jumping  from  a  ninth- 
story  window.  Her  husband,  a  Swiss  lace-maker,  had  recently 
gone  to  Switzerland  and  she  expected  to  join  him  there  soon. 
She  had  a  father  in  Jamaica  to  whom  she  had  been  accustomed 
to  send  money.  She  and  a  sister  had  come  to  New  York  after 
the  Kingston  earthquake  a  few  years  ago,  with  the  assistance  of 
the  relief  fund.  The  younger  girl  is  taking  nurse's  training  in  a 
New  York  hospital,  and  looked  to  her  married  sister  for  help 
in  case  of  emergency.  There  is  a  married  sister  in  New  York 
who  is  in  poor  circumstances,  and  brothers  in  Providence  and  in 
Jamaica  who  are  said  to  be  prosperous,  but  who  seem  to  do 
nothing  for  their  relatives.  $100.00  was  given  to  the  sister 
for  a  reserve  fund,  and  £72  in  all  ($349.50)  was  sent  to  the 
father.     The  husband  has  not  been  heard  from  in  any  way. 

($449.50) 

No.  114.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  20  was  killed.  She  boarded 
with  a  married  sister,  who  felt  the  loss  of  this  contribution  to  the 
family  budget,  and  had  sent  100  roubles  a  year  (about  $50.00) 
to  her  father  in  Russia,  who  was  a  coachman  owning  three 
horses,  with  two  of  his  sons  working  for  him.  Some  assistance 
was  given  by  the  Union  and  the  Red  Cross  Committee  was  then 
requested  to  take  up  the  question  of  dependents  in  Europe. 
$20.00  was  sent  to  the  father  through  his  married  daughter  here, 
as  temporary  assistance,  and  after  receiving  the  report  from 
Europe  400  roubles  ($206.40)  was  sent  through  the  American 
Consul-General  in  Moscow.  A  pension  of  $5.00  a  month  was 
given  to  the  sister  here.     In  November,  as  she  was  living  in 

35 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

Brooklyn,  and  seemed  in  need  of  oversight,  the  remainder  of  the 
money  set  aside  for  her  pension  was  placed  with  the  United 
Jewish  Aid  Societies  of  Brooklyn  with  the  request  that  they 
take  charge  of  the  family.  ($316.40) 

No.  75.  (Russian.)  A  married  woman  of  21  was  killed, 
leaving  a  husband  whom  she  had  supported  for  the  most  part, 
and  a  widowed  mother  and  elderly  sister  in  Russia,  to  whom  she 
had  sent  money  regularly.  The  husband  was  suffering  from  a 
"fright  neurosis"  as  a  result  of  the  fire,  and  was  probably  far 
from  strong  either  mentally  or  physically  when  in  a  normal 
condition.  He  had  no  relatives  or  friends  in  this  country,  and 
wished  to  return  to  Russia.  He  was  sent  home,  after  his  debts 
had  been  paid  and  the  necessary  official  papers  provided;  and 
the  sum  of  200  roubles  ($103.20)  was  sent  to  him  there.  His 
wife  had  two  sisters  living  in  Portland,  Maine,  who  also  contrib- 
uted something  towards  their  mother's  support.  It  was  one  of 
these  sisters  who  had  been  in  the  habit  of  actually  sending  the  re- 
mittances, and  it  therefore  seemed  best  to  send  the  money  for 
the  mother  through  her.  This  was  done,  with  the  assistance  of 
the  Associated  Charities  of  Portland.  $10.00  a  month  was  sent 
until  November,  and  then  $250.00  was  placed  with  the  Associ- 
ated Charities  of  Portland  to  continue  the  pension  for  twenty- 
five  months.  ($57i.i5) 


36 


VII 

In  considering  what  has  been  done  for  the  forty  families 
left  in  a  more  or  less  crippled  condition  here  in  the  United  States, 
it  may  be  of  interest  to  look  first  at  the  Jewish  families  and  then 
at  the  Italian,  and  to  reverse  the  order  followed  in  reviewing  the 
cases  of  injury,  beginning  with  the  family  which  has  seemed  to 
be  the  most  helpless  and  which  has  received  the  largest  appro- 
priation. 

No.  120.  (Russian.)  A  man,  30  years  old,  was  killed, 
leaving  a  wife  and  two  children,  four  and  two  years  of  age. 
They  had  been  in  this  country  only  three  months.  The  woman 
spoke  no  English  and  had  no  trade  and  had  no  near  relatives  in 
this  country  except  a  sister  who  had  come  over  with  her  and  was 
almost  as  helpless.  After  the  fire  she  went  to  a  poor  cousin, 
whose  family  was  seriously  incommoded  by  the  addition  of  four 
people.  She  wished  to  return  to  Russia,  where  she  had  a  brother 
and  a  sister.  Her  passage  was  engaged,  passport  and  other 
official  papers  were  secured,  arrangements  made  for  having  her 
looked  after  at  all  points  in  Russia  where  she  would  change  cars, 
and  for  paying  to  her  a  lump  sum  of  money  with  which  to  estab- 
lish a  business.  Three  days  before  she  was  to  sail,  however,  she 
received  a  letter  from  her  brother  telling  her  on  no  account  to 
return,  as  there  were  rumors  of  pogroms  and  of  a  foreign  war. 
This  so  frightened  her  that  she  was  not  willing  to  go.  A  few  days 
later  she  again  changed  her  mind  and  wished  to  go  home.  Ar- 
rangements were  again  made  for  her  return,  and  again,  a  day  or 
two  before  the  date  of  sailing,  she  refused  to  go.  The  United 
Hebrew  Charities  was  then  requested  to  take  charge  of  the 
family.  $1050.00  altogether  has  been  placed  with  that  society 
to  be  used  in  current  expenses  and  in  carrying  out  some  plan  for 
making  the  woman  self-supporting;  and  $4000.00  to  be  kept  as 
a  trust  fund  for  the  two  little  children.  ($5,167.20) 

No.  130.  (Russian.)  A  man,  33  years  old,  was  killed, 
leaving  a  wife  and  two  children,  six  and  five  years  of  age.  He 
was  a  contract  operator,  making  about  $25.00  per  week.  His 
wife  was  related  to  one  of  the  proprietors,  and  had  not  been 
accustomed  to  work.  A  woman  in  Philadelphia  claimed  to  be 
the  deserted  wife  of  the  dead  man  but  all  the  evidence  tended  to 
disprove  this.  After  the  disaster  the  woman  and  her  children 
went  to  Yonkers,  where  she  had  relatives,  and  within  a  few  weeks 
she  found  a  little  store  which  she  wished  to  purchase.  As  she 
seemed  capable  of  making  a  success  in  business  and  the  proposed 
investment  seemed  advantageous,  $1000.00  was  given  her  for 
this  purpose  on  May  22.     In  November  it  was  learned  that  she 

37 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

was  doing  so  well  in  the  store  that  she  had  engaged  a  maid  in 
order  to  have  time  enough  to  attend  to  all  the  business.  A  final 
appropriation  of  $500.00  was  placed  with  the  United  Hebrew 
Charities  as  a  reserve  fund  in  case  of  illness  or  other  emergency 
in  the  next  few  months;  and  $3000.00  was  set  aside  as  a  trust 
fund  for  the  two  children,  also  in  the  hands  of  the  United  Hebrew 
Charities.  ($4,610.00) 

No.  7.  (Russian.)  A  man  of  35  was  killed.  He  was  an 
operator  earning  $25.00  per  week,  and  was  related  to  the  wife  of 
one  of  the  proprietors.  He  had  recently  re-joined  his  wife  after 
an  absence  in  San  Francisco  and  they  were  planning  to  send  for 
their  children,  two  girls,  14  and  12,  who  were  with  grandparents 
in  Russia.  His  wife  had  not  been  accustomed  to  work.  Tem- 
porary assistance  was  given  for  several  weeks  while  plans  were 
being  made.  $250.00  was  given  on  May  25  for  the  purchase  of  a 
share  in  a  stationery  and  candy  shop,  and  arrangements  were 
made  for  a  pension  which  was  to  be  gradually  decreased  as  her 
business  should  become  more  productive,  three  months'  allow- 
ance being  given  in  advance  to  enable  her  to  re-establish  her 
home.  She  sent  for  her  children,  who  arrived  here  in  September. 
The  business  proved  insufficient  for  two  partners  and  in  Novem- 
ber, with  the  approval  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities,  she  de- 
cided to  sell  her  share  of  it  and  to  learn  hair-dressing.  The 
money  left  from  the  original  appropriation  of  $1000.00,  with  an 
additional  appropriation  of  $500.00,  was  at  this  time  placed  in  the 
hands  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities,  who  had  been  in  touch 
with  the  family  from  the  beginning.  In  January  $2000.00  was 
sent  to  the  United  Hebrew  Charities  to  be  held  in  trust  for  the 
two  children.  ($3,620.00) 

No.  18.  (Russian.)  A  man,  27  years  old,  was  killed,  leaving 
a  wife  and  a  baby  of  11  months.  He  had  earned  good  wages, 
$i4.oo-$20.oo  per  week.  The  wife — young,  apparently  in- 
telligent but  without  knowledge  of  English — was  for  several 
weeks  hysterically  anxious  to  get  her  plans  for  the  future  settled. 
She  went  from  one  office  to  another  to  get  advice  as  to  what  she 
could  do  to  support  herself.  At  first  she  wanted  to  be  estab- 
lished in  a  stationery  store,  but  it  soon  appeared  that  her  health 
had  suffered  so  seriously  from  the  shock  that  she  was  not  in  con- 
dition to  undertake  anything.  Through  the  summer  her  ex- 
penses were  paid  in  the  country.  In  November  she  was  still  un- 
able to  work,  in  the  opinion  of  a  physician  who  gave  her  a  careful 
examination,  and  she  seemed  to  have  lost  her  ambition  to  become 
self-supporting.  A  monthly  allowance  is  being  paid  through  the 
winter  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  it  is  expected  that  her  health 
will  be  restored  and  she  will  be  able  to  take  up  some  occupa- 
tion. She  is  under  the  care  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities, 
who  have  advised  in  regard  to  her  from  the  first.  $320.00  was 
expended  up  to  November;  $1000.00  was  then  sent  to  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities  for  further  living  expenses  and  to  establish 
the  woman  in  business  when  her  health  is  restored ;  and  $2000.00 
was  placed  with  that  society  as  a  trust  fund  for  the  child. 

($3»320.oo) 

No.  70.  (Russian.)  A  widow  35  years  old,  and  her  son 
of  17  were  killed,  leaving  a  girl  of  15  and  two  boys  11  and  10. 

38 


WASHINGTON   PLACE  FIRE 

Relatives  took  charge  of  the  three  children,  The  two  boys  were 
within  a  few  days  committed  to  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum. 
The  girl,  who  was  ignorant  in  every  direction,  was  placed  in  the 
Clara  de  Hirsch  Home,  but  she  would  not  stay,  and  returned  to 
the  home  of  her  relatives.  She  was  then  entered  at  the  Hebrew 
Technical  School,  and  $500.00  was  placed  with  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities  to  meet  her  living  expenses  through  a  two 
years'  course.  From  the  beginning  it  was  suspected  that  the 
relatives  were  not  desirable  guardians  for  the  children.  The 
Surrogate's  office  readily  agreed  to  take  no  action  on  an  applica- 
tion for  guardianship  without  consulting  with  the  Director  of  the 
Red  Cross  Committee.  As  it  is  considered  important,  by  those 
who  know  this  girl,  that  a  liberal  appropriation  be  available  to 
provide  a  carefully  selected  environment  for  her,  $1000.00  in 
addition  to  the  $500.00  already  mentioned,  has  been  placed  in 
trust  for  her  with  the  United  Hebrew  Charities;  and  in  the 
same  way  $750.00  for  each  of  the  two  boys  has  been  placed  in 
trust  with  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum.  Neither  the  Hebrew 
Technical  School  nor  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum  desires  reim- 
bursement for  the  instruction  and  care  they  are  providing. 

($3,063.67) 

No.  87.  (Russian.)  A  young  man  of  21  was  killed,  the 
only  support  of  his  aged  mother  and  an  invalid  sister  who  was 
suffering  from  cancer.  The  son  also  was  in  poor  health.  He  had 
been  working  for  the  Triangle  Shirt  Waist  Company  only  a  short 
time.  The  family  had  been  receiving  assistance  from  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities.  $100.00  was  immediately  sent  to  that 
society  to  be  used  for  the  family  and  later  this  amount  was  in- 
creased to  $1000.00.  A  second  $1000.00  was  appropriated  in 
November.  ($2000.00) 

No.  36.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  18  was  killed,  the  second  of 
six  children  living  with  their  mother.  The  father  was  in  Russia 
at  the  time  of  the  fire  but  was  expected  back  soon.  Three  of  the 
surviving  children  were  of  working  age,  but  the  one  who  lost  her 
life  earned  the  highest  wages.  The  mother  was  not  strong.  As 
no  permanent  plans  could  be  made  until  the  father  returned  and 
could  be  consulted,  temporary  help  was  given  and  a  monthly 
allowance  during  the  summer.  The  father  returned  in  July.  In 
September  the  mother  died  of  cancer.  The  father  has  some 
chronic  heart  trouble  but  seems  to  be  in  condition  to  undertake  a 
modest  business,  and  this  has  been  his  desire.  He  is  not  old  and 
is  above  the  average  in  intelligence.  In  November  $1000.00 
was  placed  with  the  United  Hebrew  Charities  for  the  purpose  of 
establishing  him  in  a  suitable  business.  ($1266.00) 

No.  62.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  20  was  killed,  the  only  un- 
married child  of  old  parents,  who  had  also  five  married  sons  and 
daughters  all  living  in  New  York.  The  daughter  who  was  killed 
was  engaged  to  be  married,  but  it  had  been  arranged  that  her 
parents  would  always  have  a  home  with  her.  $80.00  was  given 
for  temporary  assistance;  and  the  old  people  moved  to  the  home 
of  a  married  daughter  up-town.  The  father,  an  intelligent,  dig- 
nified, patriarchal  old  man,  earnestly  requested  that  whatever 
appropriation  was  made  to  them  should  be  in  the  form  of  a  lump 
sum,  in  order  that  he  might  go  into  business.     (He  had  in  mind 

39 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

the  money-lending  business.)  $1000.00  was  given  for  business 
on  April  25.  In  October  the  entire  family  had  moved  from  the 
last  address  known  to  us,  leaving  with  neighbors  the  impression 
that  they  were  in  prosperous  circumstances.  ($1080.00) 

No.  168.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  19  was  killed,  the  chief  sup- 
port of  the  family  of  five.  Her  father,  though  only  55,  looked 
very  old,  and  earned  a  very  little  by  teaching  Hebrew;  her 
mother  did  not  work;  her  older  brother  was  about  to  be  married 
and  only  paid  board;  the  other  brother,  16  years  old,  had  left 
High  School  and  started  to  work  because  of  his  sister's  death. 
After  giving  temporary  assistance  for  current  expenses  a  grant 
of  $700.00  in  all  was  made  to  enable  the  father  to  establish  him- 
self in  a  delicatessen  shop,  which  he  opened  on  May  20.  Within 
a  month  he  came  back  to  say  that  he  had  used  all  the  money 
and  could  not  make  expenses,  but  an  interview  at  the  shop 
did  not  confirm  this  nor  did  it  reveal  any  reason  for  making  a 
further  appropriation.  In  October  it  was  found  that  the  man 
had  sold  his  business  in  July  and  moved  away.  His  successor 
was  making  it  pay.  He  had  bought  it  for  $175.00  and  thought 
the  old  man  had  not  lost  money  on  the  sale.  ($830.00) 

No.  86.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  16  was  killed,  the  chief  sup- 
port of  her  father  and  mother  and  two  younger  children.  Her 
father  was  an  old  man  and  had  been  married  three  times  and  had 
several  grown  children,  some  of  whom  helped  him  a  little.  He 
and  his  wife  seemed  exceptionally  ignorant  and  incompetent.  As 
the  family  was  already  known  to  the  United  Hebrew  Charities 
and  it  seemed  that  continuous  oversight  would  be  necessary,  they 
were  placed  under  the  care  of  that  society  and  on  its  recom- 
mendation $750.00  was  appropriated  to  meet  their  needs.  In 
November  the  United  Hebrew  Charities  reported  that  three  of 
the  older  children  were  at  that  time  living  with  their  father, 
and  were  earning  together  $24.00  a  week.  ($800.00) 

No.  77.  (Hungarian.)  A  girl  of  24  was  killed,  leaving  a 
middle-aged  sister  whom  she  had  supported  almost  entirely, 
though  they  did  not  live  together,  and  a  brother  who  had  not 
been  heard  from  for  two  years.  The  sister  was  nervous  and 
peculiar  and  occasionally  violent,  and  could  never  keep  work 
for  any  length  of  time.  She  spoke  no  English.  Friends  here 
thought  that  she  ought  to  return  to  her  home  in  Hungary,  be- 
cause she  might  be  able  there,  among  friends,  to  be  self-support- 
ing, while  it  seemed  improbable  that  she  ever  could  be  here. 
The  opinion  of  the  Hungarian  Relief  Society  was  the  same. 
$45.00  was  given  for  current  expenses  and  $750.00  was  placed 
with  the  Hungarian  Relief  Society  on  May  10,  of  which  $500.00 
was  to  be  paid  to  her  on  her  arrival  at  her  final  destination,  to 
establish  a  small  business,  and  $250.00  was  to  cover  her  living 
expenses  until  she  left  America,  the  incidental  expenses  of  her 
journey  in  addition  to  the  free  transportation  which  would  be 
arranged  through  the  Austro-Hungarian  Consulate,  and  the  cost 
of  a  modest  monument  on  her  sister's  grave.  In  October  friends 
reported  that  she  was  greatly  improved  in  health  and  was  making 
money  in  her  business;  also  that  she  had  in  mind  the  possibility 
of  returning  to  America,  which  all  her  friends  and  relatives 
vigorously  opposed.  ($795 .00) 

40 


WASHINGTON   PLACE   FIRE 

No.  169.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  25  was  killed,  the  oldest 
of  four  children,  two  of  the  others  also  being  wage-earners.  The 
father,  56  years  old,  looked  much  older  and  was  not  strong. 
The  mother  was  an  invalid.  The  father  requested  assistance  in 
opening  a  small  business,  as  he  had  conducted  one  in  Russia  all 
his  life  and  felt  that  he  could  succeed  here  if  he  were  able  to  com- 
mand enough  capital  to  start.  Temporary  assistance  was  given 
until  he  found  a  soda-water  stand  in  Brooklyn  which  seemed  a 
suitable  undertaking  for  him.  This  he  bought,  with  the  money 
appropriated  by  the  Committee  and  some  assistance  from  a 
cousin,  and  the  family  moved  to  that  locality.  In  October  it  was 
reported  by  friends  that  the  father  was  doing  well,  that  the  son 
and  daughter  of  working  age  were  employed,  and  that  all  mem- 
bers of  the  family  were  in  good  health.  ($670.00) 

<  No.  157.  (Russian,  but  children  born  in  the  United  States.) 
A  girl  22  years  old  was  killed.  She  was  the  second  of  nine  chil- 
dren and  the  principal  contributor  to  the  family  income,  as 
she  was  a  book-keeper,  earning  $18.00  a  week,  twice  as  much  as 
any  of  her  three  brothers  who  were  working.  The  father  was 
ill  and  unable  to  work.  She  was,  however,  expecting  to  marry 
in  about  eight  months  and  her  contribution  would  then  have 
ceased.  $525.00  was  given  through  the  Brooklyn  Bureau  of 
Charities.  ($525.00) 

No.  49.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  20  was  killed.  She  earned 
$8.00.  Her  father  was  a  watchmaker  and  had  a  little  store.  His 
income  could  not  be  learned,  but  he  never  gave  more  than  $7.00 
to  the  household  expenses.  Two  brothers  paid  respectively 
$4.00  and  $3.00  a  week  for  their  board;  a  sister  of  15  was  attend- 
ing business  school,  and  there  were  two  other  sisters,  12  and  II 
years  of  age.  $100.00  was  given  in  two  payments  to  cover 
general  expenses  and  the  cost  of  a  tomb-stone.  The  family 
seemed  to  be  in  fairly  comfortable  circumstances,  and  as  there 
were  three  able-bodied  and  fairly  competent  men  in  the  family, 
it  did  not  at  first  seem  advisable  to  make  a  large  grant.  In  June, 
however,  they  asked  for  assistance  because  the  mother  was  ill. 
The  diagnosis  was  "gall-stones,  endocarditis,  extreme  anaemia, 
and  probably  pulmonary  tuberculosis."  $25.00  was  given  to 
enable  her  to  go,  with  her  12-year-old  daughter,  to  friends  in  the 
country.  In  October  it  was  found  that  both  the  mother  and 
the  little  girl  were  in  a  wretched  physical  condition.  Arrange- 
ments were  made  for  convalescent  care  for  the  child,  but  the 
family  would  not  let  her  go  because  they  were  anxious  for  her 
to  get  through  school.  An  additional  grant  of  $400.00  was 
made  to  enable  the  family  to  do  whatever  in  their  judgment 
would  be  of  greatest  benefit  to  the  mother  and  little  girl.  In 
January  the  son  telephoned  that  they  had  used  it  to  move  to  a 
better  apartment  in  Brooklyn  near  his  married  sister.     ($525.00) 

No.  60.  (Russian,  but  children  born  in  the  United  States.) 
A  girl  of  18  was  killed,  the  oldest  of  six  children  and  the  only 
one  of  them  at  work.  Her  father  owned  a  share  in  a  barber  shop. 
$500.00  was  given  to  enable  the  father  to  pay  off  debts  and  im- 
prove his  business.  In  October  the  16-year-old  girl  had  gone  to 
work;  the  family  appeared  to  be  in  comfortable  circumstances; 
and  they  showed  no  desire  for  further  assistance.         ($500.00) 

41 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

No.  116.  (Russian.)  A  young  man  22  years  old  was 
killed.  He  boarded  with  the  family  of  his  fiancee,  who  had 
recently  moved  into  a  larger  apartment  to  accommodate  him. 
The  girl's  health  was  affected  by  the  shock  and  the  family  was 
handicapped  by  the  loss  of  her  earnings.  $80.00  was  given  to 
the  girl  to  enable  her  to  go  to  the  country  for  a  few  weeks  and  to 
assist  her  family  in  readjusting  their  arrangements.  The  young 
man's  family  lived  in  Philadelphia,  and  were  in  poor  circum- 
stances. The  family  consisted  of  the  father  and  mother  and  six 
children,  two  of  whom  worked.  The  young  man  had  probably 
not  been  assisting  them  recently,  and  there  was  an  insurance 
policy  of  $1000.00  in  favor  of  the  father,  which  seemed  ample 
for  their  needs.  Late  in  the  summer,  however,  it  was  learned 
that  after  settling  the  claims  against  the  estate,  only  about 
$300.00  of  the  insurance  money  remained  for  the  father,  and  this 
he  could  not  touch  until  March  25,  1912,  in  case  there  might  be 
other  claims.  $250.00  was  therefore  sent  to  him,  through  the 
United  Hebrew  Charities  of  Philadelphia.  ($330.00) 

No.  28.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  22  and  her  niece  of  17,  who 
lived  with  the  family,  both  killed.  An  old  mother  was  left,  with 
one  unmarried  son.  This  family  was  in  charge  of  the  Union  Re- 
lief Committee,  which  gave  in  all  $235.00  at  first.  In  December 
conditions  changed  by  the  marriage  of  the  son  and  the  serious 
illness  of  the  mother  in  the  home  of  her  older  son.  The  Union 
then  gave  $100.00  more,  and  on  the  death  of  the  mother  re- 
quested the  Red  Cross  Committee  to  make  an  appropriation  of 
$150.00  to  cover  the  expenses  of  her  last  illness  and  funeral. 
This  was  done.  $10.00  had  been  given  for  emergent  relief  on 
March  28,  making  the  total  expenditure  from  the  Red  Cross 
fund  $160.00,  though  the  total  received  by  the  family  was 
$495.00.  ($160.00) 

No  widows  were  created  by  the  disaster  among  the  Italian 
families.  Several  men  lost  their  wives,  but  these  (with  one  ex- 
ception in  which  two  daughters  were  killed  with  their  mother) 
were,  naturally,  not  among  the  families  left  in  the  most  serious 
situation,  from  a  financial  point  of  view,  as  a  result  of  the  fire. 
The  most  serious  situations  in  the  Italian  families  were  rather 
caused  by  the  death  of  girls  or  young  women  who  had  supported 
and  cared  for  aged  or  infirm  parents.  In  the  case  which  has 
received  the  largest  appropriation  there  were  also  little  children 
who  were  left  orphans  by  the  fire. 

No.  85.  A  widow  33  years  old  and  her  sister  of  18  were 
killed,  leaving  their  old  father  and  mother,  a  brother  of  16,  and 
the  five  little  children  of  the  widow,  three  of  whom  were  already 
in  an  institution.  The  old  mother  was  almost  crazed  with 
grief.  She  did  nothing  but  moan  and  weep  for  weeks,  and  has 
not  yet  recovered.  There  was  a  married  daughter  in  the  same 
house  who  undertook  responsibility  for  the  little  girl,  and  later 

42 


WASHINGTON   PLACE   FIRE 

combined  her  household  with  that  of  the  old  people.  The 
other  child  who  was  at  home  at  the  time  of  the  disaster  was 
placed  in  the  institution  with  his  brothers.  The  boy  of  16  shows 
a  disposition  to  do  all  he  can  for  his  parents.  He  is  a  plume- 
maker,  earning  $6.00  a  week.  After  giving  emergent  relief  and 
help  in  paying  the  funeral  expenses,  a  pension  of  $25.00  a  month 
was  paid  to  the  father  and  mother  until  November.  $600.00  was 
then  placed  with  the  Charity  Organization  Society  to  continue 
this  pension  for  two  years;  and  a  trust  fund  of  $2500.00  for  the 
benefit  of  the  five  children  ($500.00  for  each)  was  also  placed 
with  the  Charity  Organization  Society.  ($3,510.00) 

No.  73.  Two  sisters,  25  and  21  years  old,  were  killed,  leav- 
ing an  old  father  and  mother — the  father  tuberculous — and  a 
brother  of  22,  who  was  out  of  work  and  who  earned  only  $7.00 
or  $8.00  a  week  when  employed.  Temporary  relief  was  given 
liberally,  the  funeral  bills  were  paid,  and  $1000.00  was  appropri- 
ated for  the  parents.  The  family  moved  to  Brooklyn  to  live  with 
a  married  daughter.  The  old  people  wished  to  go  back  to  Italy, 
where  they  had  several  relatives,  and  plans  were  made  to  send 
them  with  the  married  daughter  when  she  should  go  for  a  con- 
templated visit.  The  father's  health  grew  worse,  however,  and 
made  them  decide  not  to  go.  A  pension  of  $25.00  was  given 
until  November,  and  then,  as  it  seemed  probable  that  they 
would  continue  to  live  in  Brooklyn,  the  remainder  of  the  $1000.00 
($825.00)  was  placed  with  the  Brooklyn  Bureau  of  Charities. 
The  father  died  just  at  this  time,  and  an  additional  $100.00  was 
given  to  meet  the  expenses  of  his  funeral.  ($1502.50) 

No.  54.  A  married  woman  38  years  old  and  her  two  daugh- 
ters, 20  and  14,  were  killed;  leaving  her  husband  and  two  sons, 
19  and  5  years  old.  The  three  women  were  earning  together 
about  $36.00  a  week;  the  man  and  his  son,  respectively  shoe- 
maker and  barber,  about  $15.00.  Temporary  assistance  was 
given  and  money  to  cover  the  funeral  expenses  of  the  two  girls. 
(The  mother's  body  was  buried  with  the  unidentified.)  A 
little  later,  on  the  recommendation  of  the  Italian  Consul-General, 
$750.00  was  given  to  enable  the  man  to  set  up  a  shoe  shop.  In 
October  it  was  learned  that  instead  of  doing  this  he  has  been 
living  on  the  money,  and  has  done  no  work  since  the  fire,  and 
that  his  son  also  has  worked  very  little.  The  little  boy  is  well 
taken  care  of  by  a  cousin.  In  January  the  man  asked  for  more 
money,  to  cover  the  expense  of  removing  his  wife's  body,  which 
he  had  identified  by  some  belongings  in  the  possession  of  the 
coroner,  to  a  private  grave  by  the  side  of  the  daughters.  It  was 
found  that  $60.00  would  have  sufficed  amply  for  all  the  legitimate 
expenses  connected  with  this  transfer,  though  the  undertaker's 
bill  was  for  four  times  that  amount,  and  $60.00  was  therefore 
given,  the  family  agreeing  that  this  was  a  fair  payment  under  the 
circumstances.  ($1085.00) 

No.  97.  A  girl  of  17  was  killed,  the  oldest  of  six  children. 
The  father  was  an  epileptic;  the  mother  was  anaemic  and  had  a 
young  baby;  the  girl  had  practically  supported  the  family.  _  On 
the  recommendation  of  the  Brooklyn  Bureau  of  Charities 
funeral  expenses  were  paid  and  $1000.00  was  placed  with  that 
society  to  provide  a  pension.  ($1078.00) 

43 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

No.  14.  A  woman  of  31  was  killed,  leaving  a  mother  of  60 
who  had  been  largely  dependent  on  her,  though  she  earned  a 
little  herself.  The  daughter  had  earned  $i2.oo-$i8.oo  a  week 
on  buttonholes,  and  her  mother  said  that  she  had  savings  to  the 
amount  of  $1000.00  on  her  person  at  the  time  of  the  fire.  Later 
this  amount  rose  to  $4000.00.  Relatives  provided  the  funeral 
and  took  care  of  the  mother,  whose  mind  seemed  to  have  suffered 
so  that  she  was  a  very  difficult  problem  for  them.  Her  one  de- 
sire was  to  return,  to  Italy  and  enter  the  convent  where  one  of 
her  daughters  was  a  nun.  The  Italian  Consul-General  arranged 
for  free  transportation  and  the  Red  Cross  Committee  gave 
$1000.00  to  be  paid  to  her  on  her  arrival  in  Italy.  She  sailed 
on  May  9,  apparently  pleased  with  what  had  been  done  for  her. 
In  October  it  was  learned  that  triends  had  received  a  letter  from 
her  indicating  that  she  was  well  and  in  comfortable  circum- 
stances. In  January  a  letter  was  received  by  the  Committee 
in  which  she  asked  for  further  assistance  in  general  terms,  making 
no  reference  to  the  convent.  ($1055.00) 

No.  53.  Two  girls,  21  and  18  years  old,  were  killed.  They 
had  been  earning  together  $27.00  a  week.  Their  father,  able- 
bodied  and  49  years  old,  considers  himself  too  old  to  work. 
The  mother  is  an  invalid.  There  are  two  sons,  26  and  22  years  of 
age,  also  able-bodied,  and  a  boy  of  12  or  13.  There  was  life 
insurance  amounting  to  $500.00.  $500.00  was  given  on  April 
7,  and  later,  on  the  urgent  recommendation  of  the  Italian  Consul- 
General,  $500.00  more.  In  January  the  father  applied  for  more 
assistance.  He  acknowledged  that  neither  he  nor  his  sons  had 
made  any  effort  to  secure  employment  since  the  fire,  and  that 
they  had  lived  on  the  $1000.00  which  had  been  given  by  the  Red 
Cross  Committee  and  the  $500.00  received  from  the  insurance 
company,  in  the  expectation  that  when  this  money  was  exhausted 
more  would  be  given  on  request.  ($1000.00) 

No.  84.  A  girl  of  16  was  killed,  the  principal  support  of 
her  widowed  mother  and  three  younger  sisters.  The  mother 
earned  $5.00  a  week  making  buttonholes.  There  was  a  married 
son  who  did  nothing  for  the  family.  The  girl  who  was  killed 
had  worked  ever  since  she  came  to  New  York  at  the  age  of 
11  and  had  never  had  working  papers.  The  mother  wished  to 
go  back  to  Italy  with  her  children  to  live.  She  had  a  mother 
and  three  brothers  in  Italy,  who  would  be  able  to  give  her  a 
home.  This  plan  commended  itself  both  to  the  Red  Cross  Com- 
mittee and  to  the  Italian  Consul-General's  office.  Free  trans- 
portation was  arranged  by  the  latter  and  $750.00  was  provided 
by  the  former,  in  addition  to  funeral  expenses  and  temporary 
help,  to  be  paid  on  their  arrival  in  Italy.  ($955-00) 

No.  89.  A  girl  of  16  was  killed,  the  only  support  at  the 
time  of  her  mother,  who  was  a  tobacco-stripper,  and  her  brother, 
14  years  old.  She  was  an  errand  girl  and  had  been  receiving 
$4.50  a  week,  but  on  the  day  of  the  fire  her  wages  had  been  raised 
to  $6.00.  The  mother's  mind  was  seriously  affected  by  the 
shock  and  for  a  long  time  it  was  impossible  to  rouse  her  from  her 
depression.  The  neurologist  who  examined  her  thought  there 
was  grave  danger  of  suicide.  She  could  not  be  induced  to  go  to 
a  hospital.     An  Italian  woman  who  lived  in  the  same  house 

44 


WASHINGTON   PLACE   FIRE 

voluntarily  assumed  all  responsibility  for  her:  prepared  meals 
for  her  and  the  little  boy  and  did  not  leave  her  alone  a  moment 
for  many  weeks.  Funeral  expenses  were  paid;  temporary  help 
was  given;  the  14-year-old  boy  was  persuaded  to  take  a  course 
at  the  Vocational  School;  and  a  pension  was  promised  until  he 
should  be  fitted  to  help  support  his  mother.  The  mother's 
mental  condition  slowly  improved  and  she  went  back  to  work. 
When  she  began  to  get  better  she  told  about  an  illegitimate 
child,  a  baby  girl,  who  was  in  an  institution,  and  she  became 
more  and  more  determined  to  have  this  child  with  her.  This 
was  discouraged,  on  account  of  her  condition,  but  late  in  August 
she  brought  the  child  home.  At  first  this  seemed  to  have  a  bad 
effect  on  her  mental  condition:  she  called  the  child  by  the  name 
of  the  dead  girl,  and  seemed  more  depressed  than  she  had  been 
latterly.  Later,  however,  she  gained  more  rapidly,  and  at  present 
is  in  an  encouraging  condition.  In  November,  as  it  was  clear 
that  continuous  oversight  would  be  needed  for  a  long  time,  the 
remainder  of  the  appropriation  for  this  family  was  placed  with 
the  Charity  Organization  Society.  It  is  sufficient  to  continue 
the  pension  for  two  years  and  provide  moderately  for  extra  ex- 
penses which  may  arise.  $100.00  was  given  to  the  friend  who 
has  been  mentioned,  in  consideration  of  the  constant  care  she 
gave  in  the  weeks  after  the  fire.  Before  accepting  this  she  made 
sure  that  it  had  not  been  deducted  from  the  appropriation  for  the 
family.     She  still  continues  her  interest  and  friendly  offices. 

($93.3-4.0) 

No.  100.  A  girl  of  17  was  killed,  the  second  of  five  chil- 
dren. The  father  was  incurably  ill  and  died  soon  after  the  fire. 
The  oldest  son,  19,  earned  $8.00  a  week,  and  the  next  one  $1.00. 
The  oldest  son  was  not  in  good  health.  On  the  recommenda- 
tion of  the  Brooklyn  Bureau  of  Charities  funeral  expenses  were 
paid  and  $750.00  was  placed  with  that  society  to  be  used  for  the 
family.  After  the  death  of  the  father  they  wished  to  return 
to  Italy,  except  the  15-year-old  boy,  who  stayed  here  with  his 
married  sister.  This  was  arranged,  the  office  of  the  Italian 
Consul-General  providing  free  transportation,  and  what  re- 
mained of  their  appropriation  was  paid  to  them  in  a  lump  sum 
on  their  arrival  in  Italy.  ($854.00) 

No.  17.  A  girl  of  21  was  killed,  leaving  a  widowed  mother 
in  poor  health,  two  younger  brothers,  and  a  sister  of  nine.  Her 
wages  ($9.00)  were  the  chief  reliance  of  the  family  and  at  the 
time  of  her  death  were  their  only  income,  as  one  brother  had 
been  out  of  work  for  six  months  and  the  other  could  not  be 
legally  employed.  The  family  had  at  one  time  been  under  the 
care  of  the  Charity  Organization  Society,  and  as  it  was  evident 
that  their  needs  could  not  be  met  merely  by  money  the  Charity 
Organization  Society  was  asked  to  assume  the  care  of  the  family. 
It  was  estimated  that  $500.00  in  addition  to  what  had  already 
been  given  would  meet  the  needs  of  the  family  until  the  two  sons 
were  in  a  position  to  assume  entire  responsibility.  In  September 
the  family  decided  that  it  would  be  better  to  return  to  friends  in 
Italy.  This  seemed  desirable,  and  the  balance  of  the  appropria- 
tion which  had  been  made  for  them  was  placed  by  the  Charity 
Organization  Society  in  the  hands  of  the  Italian  Consul-General, 

45 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

whose  office  arranged  for  their  free  transportation  and  paid  the 
money  to  them  on  their  arrival  at  their  destination.      ($735.40) 


No.  23.  A  married  woman,  28  years  old,  was  killed.  Her 
sister  of  20,  who  lived  with  her,  escaped  unhurt.  The  rest  of 
the  household  consisted  of  the  husband,  who  is  not  strong  and 
did  not  work  regularly,  a  child  of  three,  and  the  old  father  of  the 
two  women.  Temporary  assistance  was  given  to  enable  the 
surviving  sister  to  go  to  the  country  and  recover  from  the  nervous 
shock  and  to  give  the  family  a  chance  to  make  their  plans.  On 
April  8  the  Charity  Organization  Society  was  requested  to  visit 
and  advise  with  them  about  the  future.  The  outcome  has  been 
that  the  man  and  his  baby  went  to  live  with  his  married  sister 
in  Brooklyn,  where  the  child  has  good  care,  and  that  the  young 
girl  and  her  old  father  set  up  a  separate  establishment  which  she 
could  easily  support,  as  she  is  a  skilled  operator.  The  father 
has  died.  The  young  man's  health  has  been  better  and  appar- 
ently he  has  been  stimulated  by  his  increased  responsibility  for 
his  child,  for  he  has  been  working  regularly  most  of  the  time. 
$500.00  has  been  placed  in  trust  with  the  Brooklyn  Bureau  of 
Charities  for  the  benefit  of  the  child.  ($690.00) 

No.  12.  A  girl  of  20  was  killed.  The  family  consisted  of 
the  mother;  her  second  husband,  who  seemed  to  be  a  small 
factor  in  the  family  income;  two  daughters  and  a  son,  all  working 
at  very  small  wages;  and  two  children  by  the  present  marriage. 
The  girl  who  lost  her  life  had  earned  the  highest  wages  in  the 
family,  which  were  only  $6.00,  most  of  which  she  gave  to  her 
mother.  Temporary  help  amounting  to  $40.00  was  given,  and 
$150.00  towards  the  funeral  expenses,  and  $500.00  was  appropri- 
ated to  provide  a  pension  which  would  replace  for  two  years  the 
girl's  customary  contribution  to  the  family.  The  first  three 
payments  were  made  direct  to  the  family,  but  in  June  the  balance 
of  the  appropriation  was  placed  with  the  Charity  Organization 
Society,  as  it  became  evident  that  the  interests  of  the  family, 
particularly  of  the  children,  required  advice  and  oversight,  not 
merely  money.  ($690.00) 

No.  55.  A  girl  of  16  was  killed,  leaving  father  and  mother, 
an  older  brother,  and  five  younger  brothers  and  sisters,  one  of 
whom  was  in  Italy.  The  father  was  a  musician,  who  played  the 
bass  viol,  and  had  been  out  of  work  six  months.  The  brother 
was  a  barber.  Emergent  relief  was  given,  funeral  expenses  were 
paid,  and  $100.00  in  addition  for  living  expenses  until  the  two 
men  should  be  working  regularly.  This  was  somewhat  more 
than  the  family  estimated  they  would  need.  In  October  they 
could  not  be  found.  In  November  they  asked  for  help  and  were 
placed  in  charge  of  the  Charity  Organization  Society.  The 
father  was  still  out  of  work,  and  the  son  was  in  the  penitentiary 
on  account  of  a  fight.  Both  parents  were  in  a  nervous  state. 
The  son  was  intelligent,  attractive,  a  good  barber,  a  favorite 
with  his  employer  and  customers,  and  disposed  to  do  his  full 
duty  to  his  parents.  On  his  release  from  prison  late  in  December 
he  was  anxious  to  have  a  small  barber  shop  of  his  own.  After 
careful  consideration  the  Charity  Organization  Society  recom- 


46 


WASHINGTON   PLACE   FIRE 

mended  that  this  be  made  possible,  and  $500.00  was  accordingly- 
placed  with  the  Charity  Organization  Society  for  this  purpose. 

($685.00) 

No.  13.  A  girl  of  18  was  killed.  She  was  a  forelady, 
earning  $15.00  a  week,  all  of  which  she  turned  in  for  the  house- 
hold expenses.  She  left  a  father  and  mother,  and  four  brothers 
and  sisters,  two  older  and  two  younger  than  herself.  Her 
father  was  a  laborer,  working  irregularly.  The  older  brother 
and  sister  earned  together  $21.00  when  employed,  but  were  out 
of  work  at  the  time,  and  the  brother  expected  to  marry  soon. 
After  paying  funeral  expenses  and  giving  temporary  help  it  was 
planned  to  give  the  family  a  pension,  to  the  amount  of  $500.00, 
but  they  preferred  to  receive  the  money  in  a  lump  sum  in  order 
that  the  father  might  buy  a  grocery  store,  and  on  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  Italian  Consul-General's  office  this  was  done. 
In  October  it  was  learned  that  the  money  had  not  been  invested 
in  business,  but  had  been  used  up  in  current  living  expenses. 
The  family  asked  for  another  appropriation  to  invest  in  business. 
The  father  and  two  oldest  children  were  all  working,  earning 
together  $30.00  a  week.  ($675.00) 

No.  88.  A  girl  of  22  died  from  injuries  received  in  the  fire. 
She  had  supported  her  father  and  15-year-old  brother  on  $8.00 
a  week.  Her  mother  was  dead.  A  married  sister  and  her  hus- 
band, who  was  out  of  work,  lived  with  the  family.  The  under- 
taker insisted  on  a  guarantee  that  his  bill  would  be  paid  before 
he  would  proceed  with  the  funeral.  This  was  not  asked  in  any 
other  case.  Emergent  relief  was  given;  funeral  expenses  were 
paid;  and  $500.00  was  given,  on  the  recommendation  of  the 
Italian  Consul-General,  to  establish  the  father  in  some  "easy" 
business,  a  candy  store  or  a  fruit  stand.  In  October  the  father 
was  found  living  with  his  married  daughter.  His  young  son 
had  just  gone  to  work  at  $4.00  a  week.  He  himself,  he  said  at 
first,  had  used  the  $500.00  for  "eat  and  drink";  then  he  said 
that  he  had  invested  it  in  a  grocery  store  and  been  cheated; 
at  any  rate,  he  had  used  it  all  and  asked  for  more.         ($667.00) 

No.  1 01.  A  girl  of  15  was  killed.  She  had  been  supporting 
her  mother  and  13-year-old  brother.  Her  father  had  deserted 
the  family  in  Italy  thirteen  years  ago  and  is  now  living  in  this 
city  and  has  another  family.  After  the  fire  the  mother  and  her 
little  boy  went  to  Montclair  to  live  near  her  married  son,  who 
helps  her  considerably.  $150.00  was  given  in  April;  in  De- 
cember $500.00  was  placed  with  the  Altruist  Society  of  Mont- 
clair to  provide  a  pension  for  the  mother  until  her  youngest  son 
is  able  to  contribute  towards  her  support.  ($651.30) 

No.  22.  A  girl  of  15  was  killed.  She  was  the  oldest  of 
eight  children  and  her  earnings  of  $7.00  a  week  were  half  the 
family  income  at  the  time.  The  mother,  who  usually  earned  a 
little  at  finishing,  was  expecting  confinement  and  not  able  to 
work.  As  the  family  was  under  the  care  of  the  Association  for 
Improving  the  Condition  of  the  Poor  at  the  time  of  the  fire,  the 
Red  Cross  Committee  requested  that  society  to  continue  in 
charge,  placing  in  its  hands  $150.00  for  funeral  expenses  and 
$500.00  for  general  needs.     $400.00  of  this  was  given  to  the 

47 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

father  in  a  lump  sum  towards  the  end  of  May  to  purchase  a 
partnership  in  the  business  in  which  he  was  employed.  A  re- 
port received  in  October  indicates  that  the  family  is  now  in 
comfortable  circumstances.  ($650.00) 

No.  102.  A  girl  of  22  was  killed,  leaving  a  mother  and  four 
younger  brothers.  She  had  been  the  main  support  of  the  family, 
having  come  to  America  first  and  sent  for  the  others.  Two  of 
the  boys  were  of  working  age  but  earned  small  wages.  Tem- 
porary assistance  was  given  and  early  in  May  $600.00  was  placed 
with  the  Italian  Consul-General  to  provide  a  pension  of  $25.00 
a  month  for  two  years.  By  the  end  of  that  time  three  of  the 
sons  should  be  working.  In  October  the  mother  said  that  the 
pension,  together  with  their  earnings,  was  sufficient  for  their 
needs,  and  that  they  expected  soon  to  be  self-supporting,  as  both 
the  second  and  third  sons  would  secure  their  working  papers 
within  a  short  time.  ($642.75) 

No.  6.  A  girl  of  22  was  killed,  She  practically  supported 
and  cared  for  her  mother,  60  years  old,  who  had  cancer. 
They,  and  an  unmarried  brother,  who  had  been  out  of  work 
seven  months,  lived  with  a  married  brother's  family.  The  entire 
family  considered  moving  to  Astoria  where  another  married 
brother  lives,  but  finally  decided  to  stay  in  New  York.  The 
two  sons  and  the  daughter-in-law  seemed  to  do  all  in  their  power 
for  the  old  woman,  who  was  in  a  wretched  state  mentally  and 
physically,  on  account  of  her  grief  as  well  as  because  of  the  suffer- 
ing due  to  the  cancer.  They  have  seemed  to  consider  the  money 
which  has  been  given  ample  for  her  needs.  After  paying  funeral 
expenses  and  giving  temporary  help  a  monthly  pension  of  $20.00 
was  given  until  November,  and  the  remainder  of  the  appropria- 
tion of  $1000.00  was  then  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Charity 
Organization  Society  for  the  benefit  of  the  mother  during  the 
rest  of  her  life.  She  died  in  February,  and  as  there  was  no  one 
else  who  had  been  in  any  way  dependent  on  the  girl,  the  bal- 
ance of  the  appropriation  was  returned  to  the  emergency  relief 
fund.  ($561.00) 

No.  112.  A  married  woman,  43  years  old,  was  killed;  her 
18-year-old  daughter  was  also  in  the  fire,  but  escaped  without 
injury.  She  left  a  husband  and  eight  children,  24  to  8  years  of 
age.  Two  of  the  younger  children  were  in  Italy  with  their  grand- 
mother. The  two  oldest  children  had  come  to  New  York  seven 
years  before;  the  next  year  they  sent  for  their  mother  and  two 
sisters;  two  years  later  for  another  sister;  and  four  months 
before  the  fire  the  father  and  another  of  the  children  had  joined 
them.  $150.00  was  given  towards  the  funeral  expenses  and 
$360.00  altogether  for  general  relief.  In  October  the  family 
seemed  to  be  in  comfortable  circumstances.  The  father  and 
three  older  children  were  all  working,  earning  together  about 
$37.00  a  week,  and  a  neighbor  cared  for  the  younger  children 
during  the  day.  In  December  the  man  asked  for  help  in  re- 
turning to  Italy,  but  later  changed  his  mind  about  going. 

($510.00) 

No.  122.  A  girl  of  24  was  killed;  her  sister,  20  years  old, 
escaped  with  no  injury  but  the  shock.     The  rest  of  the  family 

48 


WASHINGTON   PLACE   FIRE 

consisted  of  the  father  and  mother,  and  two  sons,  22  years  old 
and  13.  The  father  did  not  work,  though  he  was  apparently 
able  to.  There  was  insurance  to  the  amount  of  $83.00.  Funeral 
expenses  were  paid,  temporary  assistance  was  given,  and  the  girl 
who  was  in  a  nervous  condition  was  sent  to  the  country  for 
three  weeks.  At  the  time  the  entire  family  appeared  appreci- 
ative and  entirely  satisfied.  Later  they  became  greatly  dis- 
satisfied, and  made  repeated  appeals  to  many  persons  for  assist- 
ance in  securing  a  further  grant  from  the  Red  Cross  Com- 
mittee. On  June  22,  as  it  was  found  that  the  son  was  not  able  to 
work  and  that  his  condition  probably  had  some  connection  with 
the  fire,  an  additional  grant  of  $250.00  was  offered  to  the  father. 
At  first  he  declined  to  accept  this  on  the  ground  that  it  was  not 
sufficient,  but  a  day  or  two  later  he  sent  word  that  he  had  recon- 
sidered the  matter  and  would  be  glad  to  accept  it  with  the  under- 
standing that  it  was  a  final  grant.  They  continued,  however, 
to  make  repeated  complaints  and  to  beg  for  help.  The  daugh- 
ter was  apparently  quite  well  in  May,  but  she  would  not  try 
to  find  work.  In  October  both  son  and  daughter  were  well  and 
were  working  regularly.  The  father  and  mother  repeated 
their  demands  for  help,  saying  that  they  were  both  ill.  They 
were  assured  that  any  expenses  necessary  to  restore  them  to  health 
would  be  met  by  this  Committee,  and  that  they  might  select  their 
own  physician.  This  was  declined.  The  only  thing  that  would 
satisfy  them  would  be  a  lump  sum,  equivalent  to  the  largest 
amount  that  had  been  given  to  any  family.  This  family, 
unfortunately,  seems  to  have  been  badly  demoralized  instead 
of  helped  by  the  relief  which  has  been  given,  or  probably  rather 
by  the  advice  and  sympathy  which  they  have  received  from 
unwise  friends.  ($501.94) 

No.  1.  A  girl  of  16  was  killed.  She  fell  dead  in  the  street 
after  running  down  stairs  from  the  eighth  floor.  She  had  helped 
her  four  older  brothers  to  support  the  father  and  mother,  who 
had  not  worked  since  coming  from  Italy  six  years  before.  She 
had  a  20-year  endowment  policy  for  $1000.00  in  the  New  York 
Life  Insurance  Company,  which  had  been  given  to  her  by  her 
oldest  brother  for  a  birthday  present.  This  brother  was  the 
beneficiary  in  case  of  her  death  and  he  expected  to  erect  a 
head-stone.  The  four  sons  are  able  to  support  their  parents  and 
intend  to  do  so  as  long  as  they  live  at  home.  There  was,  how- 
ever, some  basis  for  their  apparently  preposterous  statement 
that  their  16-year-old  sister  was  "the  main  support"  of  their 
parents;  for,  as  she  was  the  youngest — besides  being  a  girl — 
the  parents  had  expected  to  rely  on  her  after  the  boys  should 
have  married.  $150.00  was  given  towards  funeral  expenses 
and  $300.00  for  a  reserve  fund  for  the  parents  against  the  time 
when  the  sons  should  marry  and  leave  home.  ($450.00) 

No.  57.  A  married  woman  of  27  was  killed,  leaving  a 
husband  and  three  children  under  10.  The  man  was  a  skilled 
tailor,  able  to  earn  from  $20.00  to  $30.00  a  week,  but  apparently 
preferring  to  rely  on  his  wife.  The  youngest  child  was  in  a 
hospital  wrth  measles.  Temporary  assistance  was  given,  and 
advice  in  regard  to  placing  the  two  children  who  were  at  home. 
The  man  complained  of  his  health  and  was  declared  to  be 
neurasthenic  and  in  need  of  treatment  for  his  ears.     Treatment 

4  49 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

was  arranged  for  with  an  aurist  and  at  the  Neurological  Insti- 
tute, but  he  would  not  avail  himself  of  it.  Soon  he  decided  that 
he  wanted  to  take  his  children  back  to  Italy,  where  his  mother 
could  care  for  them.  As  he  was  not  in  condition  to  work  and 
not  willing  to  follow  medical  advice,  and  as  there  seemed  to  be 
no  relatives  in  this  country  on  either  side  of  the  family,  this 
was  arranged  for  through  the  Italian  Consul-General's  office, 
which  provided  free  transportation.  $250.00  was  given  to  the 
man  through  the  Italian  Consul-General :  $25.00  before  sailing, 
to  provide  clothing  for  the  children,  the  rest  on  their  arrival  in 
Italy.  In  October  acquaintances  reported  that  the  man  had 
married  again  about  a  month  after  his  arrival  in  Italy. 

($295.00) 


50 


VIII 

Of  the  37  cases  in  which  there  were  relatives  abroad  for 
whom  some  provision  was  required,  only  four  were  Italians.  The 
Italians  no  doubt  are  less  apt  to  send  their  daughters  over  here 
to  lay  the  new  foundation  of  the  family  fortunes  than  are  the 
Jews  of  Russia  and  other  eastern  European  countries.  The 
question  was  raised  whether  relatives  outside  of  the  United  States 
were  proper  claimants  on  the  fund,  but  it  was  not  seriously 
argued.  The  Committee  agreed  unanimously  with  Mr.  SchirT 
that  parents  in  Europe  dependent  on  children  in  America  should 
be  treated  on  the  same  basis  as  parents  living  in  America. 

In  the  case  of  the  four  Italian  families  the  office  of  the  Ital- 
ian Consul-General  courteously  undertook  to  make  investiga- 
tions in  Italy  through  the  municipal  authorities,  to  make  rec- 
ommendations as  to  suitable  appropriations,  and  to  transmit 
the  money  appropriated  to  the  relatives  in  Italy.  The  total 
amounts  in  these  four  cases  ranged  from  $500.00  to  $1045.50, 
and  the  circumstances  were  as  follows: 

No.  59.  A  girl  of  23  was  killed.  She  lived  with  an  uncle's 
family,  and  helped  support  her  mother  and  two  younger  sisters  in 
Sicily.  She  had  two  brothers  working  as  laborers  in  Alabama. 
Official  reports  from  Italy  indicated  that  she  had  sent  only  about 
200  lire  ($40.00)  to  her  mother  in  the  two  years  since  she  had 
been  here.  Relatives  said,  however,  that  she  had  $225.00  in 
bills  on  her  person  at  the  time  of  the  fire,  which  she  had  intended 
to  use  in  bringing  her  mother  and  sisters  to  America.  $100.00 
was  sent  to  the  mother  on  April  7  through  the  American  Consul- 
General.  It  was  learned  in  September  that  there  had  been  a 
delay  on  the  part  of  the  authorities  in  Italy  in  getting  this  to 
her,  but  she  received  it  soon  after  that.  On  the  receipt  of  a 
report  from  the  Italian  Consul-General  in  regard  to  the  circum- 
stances of  the  family  and  after  further  consultation  with  the 
relatives  here  $400.00  more  was  sent  through  the  Italian  Consul- 
Geheral.  ($500.00) 

No.  64.  A  woman  of  30  was  killed.  She  and  a  younger 
sister  and  brother  lived  with  an  uncle  in  this  city.  She  had  sent 
money  to  her  parents  in  Italy,  and  to  a  brother  "suffering  with  a 
serious  chronic  disease  contracted  in  that  very  city  of  New 
York"  (so  ran  the  report  received  from  their  home)  until  he 

51 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

had  died  in  Italy.  In  the  five  years  since  she  had  come  to  New 
York  she  had  sent  about  4500  lire  ($900.00).  The  uncle  also, 
a  fairly  prosperous  druggist,  sent  money  to  the  family  in  Italy. 
$150.00  was  given  to  reimburse  the  uncle  for  funeral  expenses, 
so  that  he  could  continue  to  provide  for  the  needs  of  the  relatives 
in  Italy;  and  on  receiving  the  report  in  regard  to  their  circum- 
stances $400.00  was  sent  to  them,  on  September  26,  through 
the  Italian  Consul-General.  ($550.00) 

No.  103.  A  girl  of  17  was  killed.  She  lived  with  an  uncle 
in  Hoboken.  She  did  not  send  money  to  her  mother  and  little 
brother  and  sister  in  Sicily,  but  all  reports  agreed  that  she  had 
savings  amounting  to  $150.00  on  her  person  which  she  was 
intending  to  send  to  them  in  one  sum.  $100.00  was  sent  to  the 
mother  at  once  through  the  Italian  Consul-General,  and  on  re- 
ceiving confirmation  of  the  facts  from  the  municipal  authorities 
of  the  town  in  Sicily  $400.00  more  was  sent  through  the  same 
channel.  The  uncle  in  Hoboken  was  reimbursed  for  the  ex- 
penses he  had  had  in  connection  with  the  funeral.  He  expressed 
pleasure  and  satisfaction  at  the  action  taken  in  behalf  of  his 
sister.  ($565.00) 

No.  4.  A  married  woman  24  years  old  and  her  sister  of 
20  were  killed.  Her  husband  and  two  little  children  and  an 
unmarried  brother  of  18  were  the  rest  of  the  family,  and  a  rela- 
tive and  his  wife  shared  their  four  rooms.  A  married  sister 
in  the  same  house  took  care  of  the  children  during  the  day.  The 
two  sisters  had  sent  money  to  their  parents  in  Italy,  investi- 
gation by  the  Italian  Consul-General  showing  that  the  mother 
was  an  invalid,  that  the  younger  girl  had  come  to  New  York 
in  order  to  help  her  parents,  and  that  the  two  together  had  sent 
over  $500.00  in  the  two  years  before  the  fire.  The  husband 
was  able-bodied  and  could  earn  $12.00  a  week  as  tailor.  Funeral 
expenses  were  paid;  temporary  help  was  given  to  the  family 
here;  $50.00  was  given  them  immediately  to  send  to  Italy, 
which  we  learned  later  had  not  been  sent  but  had  been  "used 
for  the  baby";  $50.00  more  was  given  for  Italy,  which  was  sent; 
and  $650.00  in  all  was  sent  to  the  parents  through  the  Italian 
Consul-General.  In  October  the  husband  protested  against  the 
decision  of  the  Committee  in  having  given  money  to  the  parents 
in  Italy  rather  than  to  him.  ($1045.50) 

The  method  of  procedure  in  the  case  of  the  Jewish  dependents 
in  Europe  was  of  necessity  somewhat  different.  We  found  out 
all  that  we  could  about  their  circumstances  from  relatives  and 
friends  here,  frequently  seeing  receipts  for  money  orders  and 
recent  letters;  we  then  sent  a  digest  of  our  information  to  the 
Jewish  Colonization  Association  in  Paris,  who  made  investiga- 
tions through  their  agents  or  correspondents  in  the  vicinity  and 
reported  to  us.  In  this  way  we  hoped  to  insure  that  the  in- 
quiries would  be  conducted  in  a  manner  that  would  respect  such 
racial  sentiments  as,  for  example,  the  prejudice  against  sending 

52 


WASHINGTON   PLACE   FIRE 

bad  news  by  letter  or  telling  it  abruptly.  By  the  time  the  inquiry 
was  made  the  news  had  already  reached  most  of  the  families, 
even  in  the  remote  villages.  Generally  it  had  come  indirectly 
or  by  inference :  they  had  heard  of  the  great  factory  fire  through 
the  newspapers,  and  if  they  had  not  received  the  usual  letters 
had  concluded,  or  at  least  feared,  that  their  daughter  or  son  had 
been  one  of  the  victims.  The  fire  occurred  just  before  the  Pass- 
over, when  they  were  accustomed  to  look  for  a  special  remittance 
for  the  expenses  of  the  holiday. 

The  reports  from  the  Jewish  Colonization  Association  gave 
at  the  least  general  confirmation  of  the  facts  as  to  relationship, 
the  circumstances  of  the  family,  and  the  amount  of  assistance 
which  they  had  received.  Some  of  them  gave  also  valuable  ad- 
ditional information  and  a  very  vivid  picture  of  the  existing  con- 
dition, as,  for  example,  in  No.  51,  on  page  61  below.  In  general 
the  amounts  received  from  America  were  very  much  smaller  in 
the  statements  made  by  the  recipients  than  they  were  in  the 
statements  made  by  relatives  in  New  York.  The  difference 
seems  to  have  arisen  in  most  cases  from  a  substitution  of  "dollars" 
for  "roubles,"  which  doubles  the  amount,  or  from  attributing 
to  the  one  who  had  been  killed  the  contributions  sent  by  other 
relatives  as  well. 

Remittances  were  sent  in  most  instances  through  the  Ameri- 
can Consul-General,  but  in  a  few  cases  it  seemed  better  to  en- 
trust them  to  relatives  here,  and  in  one  case,  in  which  it  seemed  at 
first  that  a  pension  was  preferable  to  a  lump  sum,  the  money  was 
placed  with  the  Jewish  Colonization  Association.  Our  Consuls 
in  Moscow,  Vienna,  and  Bucharest  have  been  at  great  pains  to 
see  that  the  money  was  delivered  to  the  persons  for  whom  it  was 
intended — no  easy  undertaking  in  some  instances  when  there  was 
some  inaccuracy  in  the  address  which  we  had  or  when  the  names 
given  to  us  were  not  the  names  by  which  the  beneficiaries  were 
known  at  home.  This  gave  us  double  assurance  of  the  identity 
of  the  beneficiaries,  from  our  own  government  officials  as  well  as 
from  a  private  society  in  Europe. 

In  making  the  decisions  in  these  cases  we  have  had  in  mind 
not  only  the  amount  and  regularity  of  the  contribution  cut  off  by 
the  fire,  but  also  circumstances  bearing  on  the  probability  of  its 

53 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

continuance,  the  other  resources  of  the  family,  the  length  of  time 
before  younger  children  would  be  in  a  position  to  help  their 
parents,  and  so  on.  If  some  of  these  amounts  seem  small  in 
comparison  with  appropriations  to  families  in  the  United  States 
the  difference  in  the  cost  of  living  and  in  the  standard  of  living 
should  be  taken  into  account,  and  the  appropriation  should  be 
considered  in  terms  of  the  monthly  remittances  which  it  replaced. 
The  advantage  of  a  lump  sum  over  a  monthly  allowance  was  urged 
by  nearly  all  the  friends  who  were  consulted  about  families  in 
Europe,  and  by  the  beneficiaries  themselves  from  whom  we 
heard  directly.  In  most  cases,  as  has  been  mentioned  above, 
the  amounts  they  suggested  did  not  exceed  those  which  have 
been  granted. 

The  summaries  of  these  33  cases  are  arranged,  as  were  the 
summaries  of  the  cases  in  which  no  death  had  occurred,  in  the 
order  of  the  amount  appropriated,  beginning  with  the  smallest 
amount  ($206.20)  and  ending  with  the  largest  ($1195.26).  In 
several  of  these  cases,  it  will  be  noticed,  temporary  assistance 
was  given  to  relatives  in  this  country,  either  by  the  Red  Cross  or 
by  the  Union,  generally  to  a  sister  who  was  physically  incapaci- 
tated by  the  shock  of  the  accident. 

No.  115.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  21  was  killed,  who  had 
lived  with  her  uncle.  In  Russia  were  her  father  and  mother 
and  three  younger  children.  Her  father  was  a  blacksmith. 
He  had  borrowed  money  to  send  her  to  America,  in  the  hope 
that  she  would  contribute  to  his  support  and  would  later  bring 
over  the  other  children.  Up  to  her  death  she  had  sent  only  one 
remittance  of  15  roubles.  The  uncle  expressly  requested  that 
any  appropriation  should  be  given  in  a  lump  sum.  $206.20 
(400  roubles)  was  sent  to  the  father  on  June  22  through  the 
American  Consul-General  in  Moscow.  The  uncle  here  ex- 
pressed great  appreciation  of  the  action  taken  and  said  that  he 
intended  to  send  to  his  sister  the  $50.00  which  had  been  given 
him  by  the  Union  to  cover  funeral  expenses.  ($206.20) 

No.  29.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  20  was  killed.  She  had  a 
brother  in  New  York  and  two  in  Minneapolis.  She  had  sent  her 
father  in  Russia  $6.00  a  month.  His  family  consisted  of  his 
second  wife  and  two  small  children,  and  he  earned  one  rouble  a 
week  by  some  service  connected  with  the  local  synagogue.  The 
Union  Relief  Committee  reimbursed  the  brother  for  funeral 
expenses  and  assisted  him  to  join  his  brothers  in  Minneapolis, 
requesting  the  Red  Cross  Committee  to  provide  for  the  father's 
needs.  In  response  to  a  request  received  from  the  father,  in 
May,  by  way  of  several  societies  in  Russia  and  New  York, 
40  roubles  was  sent  to  him  pending  a  final  decision.     400  roubles 

54 


WASHINGTON   PLACE   FIRE 

was  sent  on  June  22,  through  the  American  Consul-General  at 
Moscow,  with  the  expression  of  the  Committee's  opinion  that 
the  three  sons  in  Minneapolis  should  be  able  to  give  any  addi- 
tional assistance  that  might  be  needed.  ($227.15) 

No.  48.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  21  was  killed.  She  earned 
$16.00  a  week  and  boarded  on  the  lower  east  side,  but  she  had  a 
married  sister  in  very  comfortable  circumstances  living  in  Brook- 
lyn, and  two  unmarried  brothers,  one  a  prosperous  traveling 
salesman,  the  other  just  arrived  in  this  country  a  few  days  after 
the  fire.  In  Russia  were  the  father  and  mother  and  three 
younger  daughters.  They  had  formerly  been  comparatively 
well-to-do,  but  a  few  years  ago  the  father  contracted  a  disease 
from  which  he  is  still  suffering,  and  recently  the  daughter  who 
lost  her  life  in  the  fire  was  their  chief  support.  $258.00  (500 
roubles)  was  sent  on  June  28  through  the  American  Consul- 
General  in  Moscow.  It  was  not  considered  suitable  to  make 
the  appropriation  so  large  that  the  three  children  here  would 
feel  themselves  relieved  of  all  responsibility.  In  November 
the  married  daughter  in  Brooklyn  said  that  she  and  one  of  her 
brothers  were  sending  some  help  to  their  parents  and  that  the 
grant  which  had  been  made  by  this  Committee  would  probably 
be  invested  in  a  small  business  which  would  give  a  permanent 
income.  ($258.00) 

No.  82.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  18  was  killed,  leaving  a  15- 
year-old  sister  whom  she  had  recently  brought  to  America, 
and  a  12-year-old  brother  in  Russia.  The  girl  was  a  member  of 
the  Union,  and  the  Union  paid  the  funeral  expenses  and  provided 
for  the  sister,  asking  the  Red  Cross  Committee  to  take  action 
only  in  regard  to  the  brother  in  Russia.  $300.00  was  given  to  an 
uncle  in  Brooklyn,  a  baker  with  a  comfortable  home,  for  the 
boy's  benefit.  In  January  the  uncle  brought  the  boy  to  this 
country  and  took  him  into  his  own  family.  ($300.00) 

No.  1 13.  (Bohemian.)  A  married  woman  32  years  old  was 
killed.  She  had  no  children.  She  had  sent  money  to  her  par- 
ents in  Austria.  She  was  insured  for  $158.00.  $50.00  was 
given  to  the  husband,  who  was  a  German  Roman  Catholic, 
for  expenses  connected  with  the  burial;  $253.13  (1250  kronen) 
was  sent  on  November  13  to  the  American  Consul-General  at 
Vienna  for  the  parents  in  Austria.  ($303.13) 

No.  136.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  19  was  killed.  She  had 
two  half-brothers  and  a  half-sister  in  New  York  and  a  widowed 
mother  and  two  younger  sisters  in  Russia,  to  whom  she  sent 
$5.00  per  month.  $309.30  (600  roubles)  was  sent  to  the  mother 
through  the  American  Consul-General  in  Moscow  on  June  22. 
This  was  equivalent  to  the  girl's  usual  remittance  for  five  years. 
Funeral  expenses  had  been  met  by  the  Union.  ($309.30) 

No.  140.  (Austrian.)  A  girl  of  19  was  killed.  She  had  a 
married  brother  in  New  York  and  an  unmarried  brother  in  St. 
Louis  who  died  about  the  time  of  the  fire.  She  and  this  unmar- 
ried brother  had  supported  their  father  in  Austria,  her  contri- 
bution being  about  $8.00  per  month.  She  was  engaged  to  be 
married  and  seems  to  have  supported  her  fiance  also.     The 

55 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

father  was  said  to  own  a  small  dilapidated  house  and  garden, 
valued  at  about  $1000.00,  which  were  heavily  mortgaged,  and 
there  were  four  children  with  him,  one  an  insane  deaf-mute  and 
the  others  ranging  from  12  to  16  years  in  age.  The  married 
son  here  was  apparently  prosperous.  In  response  to  a  direct 
request  from  the  father  a  post-office  order  for  100  kronen  ($20.80) 
was  sent  him  on  May  19;  and  after  receiving  further  information 
about  the  circumstances  1500  kronen  ($303.90)  was  sent  on  June 
22  through  the  American  Consul-General  in  Vienna.  The 
brother's  wife  reported  in  October  that  the  family  had  expressed 
appreciation  and  satisfaction.  ($324.70) 

No.  2.  (Roumanian.)  A  girl  24  years  old  was  killed,  She 
had  been  only  three  months  in  America,  was  living  with  a  married 
brother,  paying  no  board,  and  sending  four  or  five  dollars  a  week 
out  of  her  wages  of  six  dollars  to  help  two  sisters  in  Roumania. 
One  of  the  sisters  was  married  and  had  one  child  and  was  ex- 
pecting another.  The  other  was  a  girl  of  14.  Both  the  Jewish 
Colonization  Association  and  the  American  Consul-General  in 
Bucharest  confirmed  the  statement  about  the  amount  of  money 
sent,  and  reported  that  the  sisters  were  looking  forward  to  coming 
to  New  York  as  soon  as  they  had  got  together  the  necessary 
funds,  which  they  thought  would  be  soon  after  the  birth  of  the 
expected  child.  The  husband,  a  barber,  earned  not  more  than 
two  francs  a  day.  $25.00  was  given  to  the  brother  in  New  York 
on  April  25  to  send  to  his  sisters;  $250.51  was  sent  to  them 
through  the  American  Consul-General  in  Bucharest  on  May  8; 
$50.00  was  given  to  the  brother  on  May  15  for  a  tombstone. 

($325.51) 

No.  45.  (Hungarian.)  A  girl  of  18  was  killed.  She  had 
been  here  over  two  years  and  lived  with  an  aunt,  who  said  that 
she  had  sent  regularly  $8.00  or  $10.00  a  month  to  her  widowed 
mother  and  12-year-old  sister  in  Galicia.  No  evidence  of  this 
could  be  secured.  $30.00  was  sent  to  the  mother  through  the 
aunt,  to  cover  what  was  said  to  be  the  girl's  customary  remit- 
tances for  three  months,  pending  the  receipt  of  information 
from  Europe.  The  Jewish  Colonization  Association  reported 
in  June  that  the  mother  was  in  fair  circumstances  and  had  not 
received  help  from  the  daughter,  and  that  she  had  two  sons  in 
Berlin  earning  good  salaries.  This  report  seemed  to  indicate 
that  the  aunt  had  at  least  exaggerated  the  assistance  sent  by  the 
daughter  who  lost  her  life  in  the  fire,  and  500  kronen  ($101.30), 
which  seemed  an  ample  grant  under  the  circumstances,  was 
sent  through  the  American  Consul-General  in  Vienna.  When 
the  aunt  was  seen  in  October  she  was  greatly  concerned  over  a 
recent  letter  from  the  mother  in  Galicia,  which  indicated  a  de- 
ranged condition  of  her  mind.  She  repeated  the  statements 
she  had  made  in  the  spring  about  the  girl's  remittances  and  said 
that  the  sons  help  only  a  little.  In  view  of  this  it  seemed  best 
to  make  an  additional  grant,  and  1000  kronen  ($202.50)  was  sent 
through  the  American  Consul-General  in  Vienna.  The  total 
amount  is  equivalent  to  what  the  girl  would  have  sent  for  three 
years,  if  the  aunt's  statements  are  correct.  ($333-8o) 

No.  61.  (Austrian.)  A  girl  of  19  was  killed.  She  lived 
with  an  aunt  and  had  a  brother  in  New  York.     She  had  sent 

56 


WASHINGTON   PLACE   FIRE 

about  $5.00  a  month  to  her  widowed  mother  and  sister  in 
Galicia.  She  had  three  married  brothers  living  in  Germany. 
$85.00  altogether  was  sent  to  the  mother  through  her  son  here, 
pending  receipt  of  definite  information  from  Europe;  and 
$253.12  (1250  kronen)  was  sent  to  her  on  November  n,  through 
the  American  Consul-General  in  Vienna.  ($338.12) 

No.  131.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  20  was  killed.  The  only 
other  member  of  her  family  in  New  York  was  a  brother  19  years 
old,  who  could  barely  support  himself.  Her  father,  in  Russia, 
had  with  him  five  other  children,  two  of  whom  were  hunch-backs. 
His  employment  in  a  forest  brought  only  12  roubles  a  month 
and  the  greater  part  of  the  family  budget  in  the  last  three  years 
had  been  covered  by  the  420  roubles  which  the  daughter  had  sent 
in  that  time.  Relatives  and  friends  here  had  stated  that  she  sent 
$20.oo-$25.oo  per  month,  but  this  was  clearly  a  great  exaggera- 
tion. $30.00  was  given  to  the  boy  here  to  send  to  his  father  as 
temporary  help,  and  on  June  22  a  lump  sum  of  600  roubles 
($309.30)  was  sent  through  the  American  Consul-General  in 
Moscow.     Funeral  expenses  were  met  by  the  Union. 

($339-30) 

No.  41.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  19  was  killed.  She  had  a 
married  sister  in  New  York,  and  an  unmarried  brother,  a  silver- 
smith. She  did  not  live  with  her  sister.  She  and  her  brother 
each  sent  $6.25~$io.oo  a  month  to  their  parents  in  Russia,  with 
whom  there  were  four  younger  children,  and  they  were  planning 
to  bring  the  whole  family  over  as  soon  as  possible.  $100.00  was 
given  to  the  brother  on  April  11  to  reimburse  him  for  funeral 
expenses,  which  he  had  met  by  pawning  his  clothes  and  borrow- 
ing from  friends;  and  $250.00  on  April  18,  to  be  used  for  the  bene- 
fit of  his  parents.  ($350.00) 

No.  129.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  16  was  killed.  She  lived 
with  a  married  sister  who  was  in  poor  circumstances,  and  had  a 
brother  in  New  York  who  was  engaged  to  be  married  and  there- 
fore did  not  help  the  rest  of  the  family.  The  father  in  Russia 
was  said  to  be  employed  in  a  match  factory,  earning  scarcely 
one  rouble  per  day,  and  to  have  four  younger  children  with  him. 
The  daughter  who  lost  her  life  in  the  fire  had  been  in  America 
only  three  months  and  her  steamship  ticket  was  not  yet  paid 
for.  She  had  not  sent  much  money  to  her  parents  but  they 
were  expecting  that  she  would  help  them  substantially,  and  her 
father  had  in  this  hope  gone  in  debt  to  the  extent  of  100  roubles 
to  send  her  to  America.  $25.00  was  given  to  the  sister  for 
emergent  relief,  and  the  balance  due  on  the  steamship  ticket 
was  paid.  $20.00  was  given  to  the  brother  for  a  remittance  to 
Russia;  and  500  roubles  ($258.00)  was  sent  to  the  father  in 
Russia  through  the  American  Consul-General  at  Moscow. 

($350.50) 

No.  154.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  19  was  killed.  She  lived 
with  a  married  sister  and  had  taken  her  brother-in-law's  name 
on  coming  to  New  York.  She  had  two  other  sisters  in  this 
country.  She  had  sent  10  roubles  a  month  ($5.00)  regularly 
to  her  mother  and  the  four  younger  children  in  Russia,  which 
was  said  to  be  their  only  support.     $25.00  emergent  relief  was 

57 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

given  by  the  Brooklyn  Bureau  of  Charities;  $20.00  was  sent  to 
the  mother?  April  28,  through  the  married  sister  in  Brooklyn, 
and  $309.30  (600  roubles)  was  sent  on  June  22,  through  the 
American  Consul-General  in  Moscow.  This  was  equivalent  to 
the  girl's  contribution  for  five  years.  ($354-30) 

No.  105.  (Russian,  coming  to  America  from  London.) 
A  girl  of  19  was  killed.  She  lived  with  a  married  sister  and  was 
said  to  have  sent  $15.00  or  $20.00  a  month  to  her  father  and 
step-mother  in  London.  The  father  is  an  American  citizen 
and  had  been  back  in  London  only  a  year  or  so.  He  addressed 
pleas  for  assistance  to  the  mayor.  He  is  a  tailor  and  is  probably 
somewhat  incapacitated  by  rheumatism.  $50.00  was  given  to 
the  girl's  brother-in-law  to  reimburse  him  for  expenses  he  had 
incurred  in  connection  with  the  funeral;  $20.00  was  sent  to 
the  father  for  temporary  assistance  through  his  married  daughter 
here;  and  on  May  15  a  draft  for  £60  ($292.20)  was  sent  to  him 
through  the  Board  of  Jewish  Guardians  in  London.  This 
amount  was  suggested  by  his  daughter  here,  in  the  thought  that 
it  would  be  sufficient  to  set  him  up  in  a  peddler's  business,  to 
which  he  is  accustomed.  For  some  time  he  demurred  at  the 
amount,  wricing  to  this  Committee  to  ask  them  to  "reconsider 
this  decision"  and  grant  him  at  least  $500.00,  but  finally  he 
decided  to  accept  it  as  final.  ($362.20) 

No.  93.  (Galician.)  A  girl  of  19  was  killed.  She  had  a 
married  sister  here,  with  whom  she  did  not  live;  a  brother  17 
years  old  whom  she  had  brought  over  three  months  before; 
and  she  was  engaged  to  be  married.  Her  fiance  paid  for  the 
funeral.  She  had  sent  about  $10.00  a  month  to  her  parents  in 
Galicia.  A  money  order  for  them  ready  to  be  mailed  was  found 
on  her  person.  $60.00  was  sent  to  the  parents  in  six  monthly 
installments,  through  the  brother,  who  lived  with  an  uncle 
in  Brooklyn;  and  $303.75  (1500  kronen)  through  the  American 
Consul-General  at  Vienna  on  November  14.  The  total  is 
equivalent  to  the  girl's  contributions  for  about  three  years; 
before  the  end  of  that  time  her  brother  should  be  able  to  take 
her  place.  ($36375) 

No.  163.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  18  was  killed.  She  lived 
with  a  cousin  here  and  had  a  brother  in  the  city.  Her  mother, 
a  widow,  and  four  younger  children  were  in  Russia,  dependent 
on  the  two  children  here.  The  girl  had  sent  20  roubles  a  month 
and  had  also  been  in  the  habit  of  making  up  deficiencies  in  her 
brother's  contributions,  though  he  was  older  than  she,  when 
he  did  not  send  a  similar  amount.  After  the  fire  he  showed 
a  disposition  to  drop  his  responsibility  entirely,  but  it  was  made 
clear  to  him  that  the  Committee  assumed  that  he  would  con- 
tinue his  usual  contributions.  $35.00  was  given  him  in  April 
and  May  to  send  to  Russia,  and  500  roubles  ($257.75)  was  sent 
on  June  22  to  the  mother  through  the  American  Consul-General 
in  Moscow.  $80.00  was  given  to  the  cousin  to  reimburse  her  for 
funeral  expenses.  ($372-75) 

No.  91.  (Galician.)  A  girl  of  17  was  killed.  She  had  been 
in  this  country  only  five  months  and  did  not  earn  much.  She 
lived  with  a  married  sister  and  paid  nothing  for  her  board,  and 

58 


WASHINGTON   PLACE   FIRE 

her  brother  who  is  a  tailor  supplied  her  clothes.  She  sent  from 
$8.00  to  $12.00  a  month  to  her  mother  in  Austria,  with  whom 
were  three  children,  the  oldest  12.  The  mother  had  been 
separated  from  her  husband  for  eight  or  ten  years  and  received 
no  support  from  him.  The  girl's  steamship  ticket  had  been 
bought  on  the  installment  plan  and  was  not  yet  paid  for.  The 
balance  still  due  on  the  steamship  ticket  was  paid;  $15.00  a 
month  was  sent  to  the  mother  through  the  son  until  November; 
and  then  a  final  payment  of  1500  kronen  ($303.75)  was  made 
through  the  American  Consul-General  at  Vienna.  The  son  was 
greatly  disappointed  that  a  lump  sum  was  given  instead  of  a 
pension,  as  he  feared  his  mother  would  not  use  the  money  wisely. 
He  thought,  moreover,  that  the  amount  should  have  been 
larger — to  equal  a  pension  for  about  four  years.  The  amount 
which  was  given  in  November  was  equivalent  to  the  girl's  contri- 
bution for  fully  two  years  longer,  and  by  that  time  two  of  the 
children  in  Austria  will  be  old  enough  to  earn  something. 

($45875) 

No.  165.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  18  was  killed.  She  boarded 
with  strangers  and  had  sent  regularly  from  $12.00  to  $15.00  a 
month  to  her  parents  in  Russia,  and  additional  sums  before 
every  festival.  She  had  a  married  brother  living  in  Newark, 
who  had  done  nothing  for  his  parents  since  his  marriage.  The 
old  parents  were  living  with  a  married  son  in  Odessa,  who  was 
very  poor  and  had  decided  that  he  could  not  keep  them  any 
longer.  They  had  also  an  invalid  crippled  son  of  13.  Money 
was  given  to  the  son  in  Newark  on  May  8  to  send  to  his  parents, 
but  he  used  part  of  it  to  get  possession  of  some  personal  effects 
of  his  sister  from  her  landlady.  As  there  were  other  indications 
also  that  it  might  not  be  wise  to  make  remittances  through  him, 
money  was  placed  with  the  Jewish  Colonization  Association  to 
provide  a  monthly  pension  of  100  francs  for  about  two  years. 
In  December  a  letter  was  received  from  the  father  in  Odessa 
requesting  the  remainder  of  the  appropriation  in  a  lump  sum, 
"as  in  this  case  I  could  easily  commence  some  business  with  this 
money — whilst  if  receiving  the  money  by  monthly  installments 
I  would  not  be  able  to  economize  a  centime  and  would  have 
to  spend  it  on  food  so  that  after  twenty  months  time  I  would 
have  nothing  more  left  and  no  hope  for  any  better  future." 
The  Jewish  Colonization  Association  has  been  authorized  to 
decide  about  this  request.  ($498.21) 

No.  50.  (Galician.)  Two  brothers,  earning  $25.00  and 
$15.00  a  week,  were  killed.  Relatives  here  and  our  European 
correspondent  stated  that  the  parents  in  Galicia  owned  a  little 
cottage  and  were  not  dependent  upon  the  boys.  From  one 
source  we  were  told  that  they  had  recently  sent  home  $500.00 
for  the  purchase  of  a  farm;  from  another  that  they  had  savings 
amounting  to  $700.00  with  which  they  planned  to  make  a  visit 
home  at  the  Passover  season.  Their  bank  account  covered 
funeral  expenses  and  left  $195.00  which  was  sent  to  their  father 
by  the  Austro- Hungarian  Consul-General.  In  October  it  was 
stated  by  relatives  here  that  the  mother  had  become  insane 
since  the  death  of  the  two  boys  and  that  the  father  was  reduced 
to  destitution  by  this  trouble.  A  grant  of  2500  kronen  ($506.25) 
was  therefore  made  and  sent  to  the  father  on  November  11 
through  the  American  Consul-General  at  Vienna.         ($506.25) 

59 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

No.  43.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  18  was  killed.  She  had 
been  here  only  a  year  and  lived  with  an  older  sister.  There 
was  a  married  brother  also  in  this  city.  The  father  and  mother 
and  three  younger  children  were  in  Russia.  The  two  girls  to- 
gether had  been  sending  home  $io.oo-$20.oo  a  month.  The 
sister  here  was  also  in  the  fire  and  her  health  was  somewhat 
affected;  she  was  engaged  to  be  married  and  appeared  to  be 
more  anxious  to  get  help  from  the  Committee  for  her  dowry 
than  for  her  parents.  $100.00  altogether  was  given  to  the  sister 
for  personal  expenses,  in  consideration  of  her  health;  $15.00 
(30  roubles)  was  sent  through  her  on  May  3  to  the  parents  in 
Russia;  and  $396.94  (770  roubles)  was  sent  to  them  on  June  22 
through  the  American  Consul-General  in  Moscow,  the  exact 
amount  being  determined  by  a  letter  from  the  father  to  his  chil- 
dren in  which  he  stated  that  he  had  a  good  opportunity  to  rent 
a  farm  and  that  if  he  could  command  800  roubles  he  could  estab- 
lish himself  with  prospects  of  being  able  to  make  a  fairly  com- 
fortable living.  The  girl  here  displayed  irritation  at  the  action 
of  the  Committee  in  not  assigning  a  larger  share  of  the  total 
appropriation  to  her.  In  October  it  was  learned  that  she  was 
quite  well,  was  working  regularly,  and  expected  to  be  married 
soon.     A  note  of  thanks  has  been  received  from  the  father. 

($5H.94) 

No.  24.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  18  was  killed.  She  had  been 
in  New  York  four  years  and  lived  with  an  uncle's  family.  She 
sent  $i2.oo-$i5.oo  per  month  to  her  parents  in  Russia.  The 
father  earned  a  little  teaching  Hebrew.  He  had  seven  children 
ranging  from  22  down  to  8  years  of  age,  none  of  whom  earned 
much.  The  Union  Relief  Committee  reimbursed  the  relatives 
here  for  funeral  expenses  and  requested  the  Red  Cross  Committee 
to  provide  for  the  family  in  Russia.  $515.50  (1000  roubles)  was 
sent  on  June  22  to  the  American  Consul-General  at  Moscow  in 
the  expectation,  based  on  the  opinion  of  the  relatives  here, 
that  it  would  enable  the  father  to  establish  himself  in  some 
business  in  which  some  of  his  children  could  assist.  Relatives 
here  report  that  he  has  expressed  satisfaction  with  the  decision. 

($515.50) 

No.  137.  (Russian.)  A  young  man,  20  years  old,  was 
killed.  He  boarded  with  an  uncle.  It  was  said  that  he  sent 
150-200  roubles  a  year  to  his  parents  in  Russia,  and  that  this 
was  the  principal  support  of  the  family,  which  consisted  of  the 
father  and  mother  and  two  children  of  school  age.  Another  son 
was  serving  his  second  year  in  the  army  and  could  not  help  his 
parents.  The  relatives  here  urged  that  whatever  help  was 
given  should  be  in  a  lump  sum,  in  order  that  the  father  might 
start  a  stationery  store  or  some  other  business  which  would 
assure  him  an  income.  $515.50  (1000  roubles)  was  sent  to  the 
father  on  June  22  through  the  American  Consul-General  in 
Moscow.  The  Union  had  reimbursed  the  uncle  for  funeral  ex- 
penses. ($515.50) 

No.  83.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  19  was  killed.  She  had  no 
relatives  in  this  country,  but  in  Russia  there  were  a  widowed 
mother  and  five  brothers  and  sisters  under  16,  to  whom  she  had 
sent  25  roubles  a  month.    She  was  engaged  to  be  married.     Let- 

60 


WASHINGTON   PLACE   FIRE 

ters  asking  help  for  the  mother  were  received  from  three  rabbis 
in  the  town  where  she  lived  within  six  weeks  after  the  fire,  and 
50  roubles  ($26.13)  was  promptly  sent  to  her.  In  acknowledging 
the  receipt  of  this  she  expressly  requested  that  the  money  set 
aside  for  her  be  given  in  one  lump  sum  in  order  that  she  might 
use  it  to  advantage  for  the  education  of  the  children.  950 
roubles,  making  the  total  appropriation  1000  roubles,  was  sent 
to  her  through  the  American  Consul-General  at  Moscow  on 
June  22.  ($5i5-85) 

No.  224.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  21  was  killed.  She  had  been 
in  this  country  only  six  months  and  lived  with  cousins.  She 
sent  money — $5.00  or  $10.00  a  month— to  her  parents  in  Russia, 
who  had  three  small  children  with  them,  the  oldest  a  cripple  of 
12.  There  is  a  son  in  Canada.  The  girl  had  worked  in  this 
shop  only  three  days.  No  application  was  made  to  the  Red 
Cross  Committee  by  the  relatives  in  New  York  and  the  Police 
Department  had  no  record  of  the  death,  probably  because 
she  was  one  of  the  unidentified.  In  August  an  application 
was  received  from  the  father,  through  the  American  Consul- 
General  in  Moscow.  The  cousins  here  were  then  seen  and  the 
Jewish  Colonization  Association  confirmed  their  statements 
and  those  of  the  father.  $516.00  was  sent  on  February  1  through 
the  American  Consul-General  in  Moscow.  ($516.00) 

<  No.  9.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  21  was  killed.  She  lived  with 
cousins  here.  The  rest  of  the  family — father,  mother  and  four 
children  under  14 — were  in  Russia,  though  the  father  had  spent 
two  years  in  New  York.  The  Jewish  Colonization  Association 
reported  that  they  were  in  very  poor  circumstances  and  that 
they  had  been  receiving  from  $75.00  to  $100.00  per  year  from  the 
girl  who  was  killed.  $516.20  was  sent  to  the  American  Consul- 
General  in  Moscow  on  November  12  to  be  paid  to  the  father. 

($516.20) 

No.  51.  (Roumanian).  A  girl  of  23  was  killed,  the  oldest 
of  six  children,  the  three  youngest  being  still  with  the  parents 
in  Roumania.  She  had  been  in  New  York  over  three  years;  a 
brother  of  21  had  been  here  about  two  and  could  not  do  more 
than  support  himself.  She  was  supporting  a  sister  of  19,  who 
had  only  recently  come  over  and  was  a  dressmaker's  appren- 
tice, as  well  as  sending  money  regularly  to  her  parents.  Our 
European  correspondent  reported  that  he  found  the  family 
"really  in  distress,"  as  they  had  been  burned  out  of  their  home 
a  few  days  before.  Rumor  was  running  through  the  quarter 
that  their  daughter  had  been  killed  in  the  fire  in  New  York  but 
they  did  not  believe  it  because  they  had  received  some  money 
for  Passover  from  their  son,  who  wrote  that,  thanks  to  God,  his 
sisters  were  both  very  well.  The  father  was  a  peddler,  making 
about  two  francs  a  day  in  summer,  one  franc  in  winter.  The 
17-year-old  son  was  a  carpenter,  earning  up  to  forty  francs  a 
month,  and  the  daughter  next  to  him  was  apprenticed  to  a  dress- 
maker who  gave  her  1.50  francs  a  week.  Pending  receipt  of  in- 
formation from  Europe  money  was  given  at  intervals  to  the  son 
to  send  home,  and  on  June  5  $300.00  was  sent  through  him. 
A  monthly  allowance  was  given  to  the  sister  until  October,  by 
which  time  she  was  earning  enough  to  pay  her  board  in  an  uncle's 

61 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

family.  A  final  grant  of  $50.00  was  made  to  her  to  provide  her 
with  winter  clothing.  The  children  here  had  not,  up  to  Novem- 
ber, received  any  word  from  their  parents  about  the  calamity 
which  had  befallen  them  in  April.  ($585.00) 

No.  67.  (Polish.)  A  girl  of  19  was  killed.  She  lived  with 
a  married  sister  and  was  said  to  have  sent  her  parents  and  six 
younger  brothers  and  sisters  in  Warsaw  from  $15.00  to  $25.00 
per  month.  She  had  been  working  for  the  Triangle  Shirt 
Waist  Company  only  a  few  weeks  and  was  earning  only  $8.00 
there,  but  in  her  previous  employment  her  wages  had  been  two 
or  three  times  as  much.  Temporary  assistance  to  the  amount  of 
$35.00  was  given  to  the  married  sister,  whose  husband  was 
working  in  Philadelphia,  as  the  loss  of  her  sister's  share  in  the 
household  expenses  was  a  considerable  embarrassment  to  her. 
$65.00  was  sent  to  the  parents  through  the  sister  here,  in  three 
installments,  and  on  June  22,  a  lump  sum  of  960  roubles  ($494.88) 
was  sent  to  them  through  the  American  Consul-General  in 
Moscow.  The  sister's  husband  returned  to  Warsaw  in  June, 
in  the  hope  of  selling  some  plays  he  had  written,  and  a  few 
weeks  later  he  sent  for  his  wife  and  children.  ($594.88) 

No.  161.  (Russian.)  A  young  man  of  22  was  killed,  a 
skilled  operator  earning  $i8.oo-$20.oo  a  week.  He  had  sent 
money  to  his  mother  in  Russia  and  planned  to  send  for  her  to 
join  him  and  his  younger  sister  here  in  New  York.  There  is 
also  a  married  brother  here  but  he  does  not  assist  his  mother. 
The  mother  in  Russia  was  ill.  She  lived  with  a  married  daughter 
who  was  in  very  poor  circumstances.  Money  was  offered  to  the 
brother  and  sister  here  to  send  to  their  mother  for  temporary 
needs  but  they  persisted  in  declining  it  rather  than  sign  a 
receipt,  and  they  were  not  willing  that  the  Committee  should 
communicate  with  the  mother  because  they  did  not  want  her 
to  learn  of  the  disaster.  (They  considered  it  very  unfortunate 
that  news  had  reached  her  through  the  representative  of  the 
Jewish  Colonization  Association.)  On  May  10,  after  receiving 
a  distressing  letter  about  her  needs,  they  decided  to  accept  the 
assistance  that  had  been  offered.  After  that  monthly  remit- 
tances were  sent  through  the  daughter  until  November,  when 
a  lump  sum  of  1000  roubles  ($516.20)  was  sent  through  the 
American  Consul-General  in  Moscow.  ($661.20) 

No.  132.  (Galician.)  A  girl  of  23  was  killed.  She  boarded 
with  an  uncle,  and  had  a  brother  somewhere  in  the  city,  whose 
address  could  not  be  secured.  It  was  said  that  she  was  the 
sole  support  of  her  father  and  mother  and  five  brothers  and 
sisters  under  17  years  of  age  in  Galicia,  to  whom  she  sent  $10.00 
per  month.  Relatives  here  had  said  she  sent  $30.00  or  $35.00, 
keeping  only  enough  for  the  barest  necessary  expenses,  but  this 
was  evidently  an  exaggeration.  $100.00  was  given  to  the  uncle 
to  cover  funeral  expenses;  and  $70.00  for  remittances  to  Galicia; 
$506.50  (2500  kronen)  was  sent  to  the  father  in  Galicia,  through  the 
American  Consul-General  in  Vienna.  The  uncle  felt  that  no 
more  could  be  expected  of  the  Red  Cross  Committee,  but  he 
thought  that  the  Company  should  be  compelled  to  pay  a  large 
indemnity.  ($676.50) 

62 


WASHINGTON   PLACE   FIRE 

No.  126.  (Russian.)  Two  sisters,  23  and  17  years  old, 
were  killed;  their  brother,  21,  escaped  without  injury.  There 
were  also  a  brother,  27  years  old,  and  a  sister,  19,  in  New  York. 
The  father  and  two  younger  sisters  were  in  Russia.  The  father 
was  said  to  have  "a  very  small  trade  in  eggs"  and  to  rely 
chiefly  on  the  money  sent  him  from  America,  which  was  about 
$160.00  a  year.  The  surviving  sister  in  New  York  was  seriously 
affected  physically  by  the  shock.  Assistance  amounting  in  all 
to  $175.00  was  given  to  the  sister  to  enable  her  to  spend  the 
summer  in  the  country.  $20.00  a  month  was  sent  to  the  father 
in  Russia  through  the  oldest  son  until  October,  and  on  Novem- 
ber 14  a  lump  sum  of  $500.00  was  sent  in  the  same  way. 

($795-00) 

No.  139.  (Family  living  in  Palestine.)  A  young  man  23 
years  old  was  killed.  He  practically  supported  his  father  and 
mother  and  three  sisters  in  Palestine,  sending  them  probably 
between  $20.00  and  $30.00  a  month.  His  father  had  tubercu- 
losis and  his  mother  was  a  cripple.  He  had  an  uncle  in  New 
York  who  is  a  responsible  business  man,  and  who  helps  his 
sister  more  or  less.  $50.00  was  sent  in  two  remittances,  through 
the  uncle  here,  and  on  June  29  a  draft  for  3862  francs  ($749.90) 
was  sent  through  the  same  relative,  making  the  total  appropria- 
tion $799.90.  In  October  the  uncle  said  that  the  grant  had  been 
of  great  benefit  to  the  family:  that  they  had  invested  it  in 
business,  in  which  they  were  doing  well,  and  that  their  health 
was  much  improved.  ($799-90) 

No.  117.  (Russian.)  A  girl  of  21  was  killed.  She  had 
been  in  New  York  six  years  and  had  brought  over  her  younger 
sister  less  than  a  year  before  the  fire.  The  two  girls  boarded 
with  an  aunt  and  sent  about  $20.00  a  month  to  their  parents 
in  Russia.  The  father  "is  a  very  poor  tailor.  He  is  out  of 
work  and  is  burdened  with  a  numerous  family" — six  children 
ranging  from  3  to  15  years  of  age.  The  younger  sister's  health 
was  seriously  affected  by  the  shock.  Funeral  expenses  were 
paid;  temporary  help  was  given  to  the  sister,  including  a 
monthly  allowance  of  $35.00  to  enable  her  to  spend  three 
months  with  friends  in  the  country.  $20.00  a  month  was  sent 
through  her  to  the  parents  until  November,  when  a  lump  sum  of 
1550  roubles  ($800.11)  was  sent  through  the  American  Consul- 
General  at  Moscow.  There  was  delay  in  delivering  this  because 
the  girls  had  changed  their  names  on  coming  to  New  York  and 
we  did  not  learn  the  father's  name  until  December. 

($1195.26) 


63 


IX 

From  the  preceding  details  of  the  purposes  for  which  the 
fund  has  been  spent  and  the  action  taken  in  each  case  it  is  clear, 
incidentally,  that  the  disbursements  for  relief  might  be  classified 
under  three  headings  with  respect  to  the  manner  in  which  the  pay- 
ments were  made.  Part  of  the  money  was  paid  direct  to  some  mem- 
ber of  the  family ;  part  of  it  was  sent  to  the  family  through  some 
official  or  organization  who  merely  acted  as  our  intermediary  in 
delivering  the  money  in  one  lump  payment;  while  a  third  part 
was  placed  in  the  hands  of  some  organization  to  be  disbursed  in 
its  discretion  for  the  benefit  of  the  family,  or  to  be  paid  in  a  pen- 
sion of  specified  amount  for  a  certain  length  of  time,  or  to  reim- 
burse the  society  for  expenses  incurred  for  families  placed  under 
its  care  by  this  Committee. 

METHOD  OF  DISBURSEMENT 

Direct  to  family,  or  in  payment  of  small  bills  for  fam- 
ily, such  as  board,  transportation,  copies  of  official 

papers $23,156.99 

Sent  to  family  through  some  other  organization  or 
some  government  official  as  intermediary,  and  paid 
to  the  family  in  a  lump  sum: 

Through   the   Italian   Consul-General   in   New 

York $6,975.00 

Through  the  American  Consuls-General  in  Mos- 
cow, Vienna,  Bucharest 10,066.21 

Through  private  societies  in  London,  Philadel- 
phia, Brooklyn 1,542.20       18,583.41 

Placed  with  some  organization  or  official  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  family,  or  to  reimburse  the  society  for  ex- 
penses incurred  for  families  placed  under  its  care: 

The  United  Hebrew  Charities 20,735.00* 

The  Charity  Organization  Society,  the  Associa- 
tion for  Improving  the  Condition  of  the  Poor, 

and  the  Joint  Application  Bureau 7,260.40! 

The  Brooklyn  Bureau  of  Charities 5.472. 15  j 

The  Hebrew  Free  Burial  Society 1,000.00 

Others 4,348-2i§     38.815.76M 

Total $80,556.16 

*  Including  $12,000.00  in  trust  funds  for  eight  children, 
t  Including  $2,500.00  in  trust  funds  for  five  children. 
t  Including  $500.00  in  a  trust  fund  for  one  child. 
§  Including  $1,500.00  in  trust  funds  for  two  children. 
l|  Including  $16,500.00  in  trust  funds  for  sixteen  children. 

64 


WASHINGTON   PLACE  FIRE 

A  large  fourth  of  the  money  was  paid  direct  to  the  benefi- 
ciaries and  a  small  fourth  was  sent  to  them  through  some  inter- 
mediary agency,  making  over  half  which  was  put  into  the  hands 
of  the  families  as  promptly  as  possible.  A  little  less  than  half 
has  been  placed  with  some  agency  to  be  used  for  the  benefit  of 
the  family  with  more  or  less  discretion  as  to  method  of  applica- 
tion. With  the  exception  of  the  trust  funds  for  children  (which 
amount  to  nearly  half  of  this  sum — a  fifth  of  the  entire  disburse- 
ments) this  money  is  now  in  process  of  disbursement  to  the 
families  for  whom  it  has  been  appropriated. 

It  was  decided  that  the  trust  funds  for  children  left  orphans 
by  the  disaster  should  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  appropriate 
charitable  society.  The  reason  for  this  decision  was  that  it  was 
considered  desirable  that  there  should  be  some  elasticity  in  the 
application  of  these  funds,  and  it  is  therefore  better  that  they 
should  be  in  charge  of  a  society  which  can  exercise  personal  dis- 
cretion from  time  to  time,  on  the  basis  of  knowledge  of  the  family 
circumstances,  rather  than  that  they  should  be  turned  over,  for 
example,  to  a  trust  company  which  would  be  expected  to  disburse 
them  according  to  an  arbitrary  plan  without  discretion.  The 
following  paragraphs  from  a  letter  to  one  of  the  societies  con- 
cerned explains  this  position  more  fully: 

"We  hope  that  it  will  be  practicable  to  deposit  or  invest 
these  funds  in  such  a  way  as  to  give  the  families  the  benefit 
of  the  interest.  If  they  do  not  need  the  interest  for  current 
expenses  it  can  be  added  year  by  year  to  the  principal. 

"It  would  be  quite  agreeable  to  this  Committee  that 
the  principal  should  be  retained  intact  until  the  children 
have  met  the  minimum  educational  requirements  of  the  New 
York  law,  and  that  it  should  then  be  applied  toward  their 
further  education  in  whatever  way  may  seem  most  advan- 
tageous for  their  future.  If  the  family  should  be  in  position 
to  give  this  additional  training,  the  funds  could  be  kept  still 
longer,  until  the  child  has  reached  the  age  of  eighteen,  or 
even  twenty-one,  when  it  would  be  available  for  a  start  in 
business  or  a  dowry. 

"On  the  other  hand,  circumstances  may  easily  arise  at 
any  moment  when  the  best  interest  of  the  child  would  re- 
quire that  some  part,  even  possibly  all,  of  the  principal 
should  be  immediately  available — a  severe  illness,  for  ex- 

5  65 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 


ample,  of  the  child  or  of  its  guardian — and  it  is  the  desire  of 
the  Committee  that  you  should  feel  free,  in  any  such  event, 
to  apply  the  money  as  may  seem  in  your  judgment  to  be 
most  expedient." 


66 


X 

Contributions  to  the  fund,  as  has  been  said,  amounted  to 
nearly  $104,000.00  and  the  interest  which  accrued  during  the 
period  of  disbursement  brought  it  up  to  nearly  $105,000.00.  The 
expenditures  for  relief  have  been  $80,556.16.  The  administra- 
tive expenses  have  been  $1,937.55,  which  is  approximately  two 
per  cent  of  the  fund. 

The  principal  item  in  the  administrative  expenses  is  for 
salaries  of  visitors  and  office  assistants.  At  the  urgent  request 
of  the  Committee,  re-enforced  by  a  message  from  the  National 
Director  of  the  American  Red  Cross,  and  in  accordance  with  the 
Red  Cross  By-laws,  the  societies  to  which  we 'were  indebted  for 
assistants  consented  to  be  reimbursed  for  these  salaries.  The 
other  items  are  for  postage,  stationery,  car-fares  of  visitors,  and 
for  the  printing  of  this  report.  We  have  been  at  no  expense  for 
certain  important  items :  the  services  of  the  Director,  office-rent, 
furniture,  and  sundry  office  supplies.  Rooms  and  furniture  for 
the  emergency  office  occupied  during  the  first  three  weeks  were 
provided  by  the  Metropolitan  Insurance  Company.  After  that 
the  work  was  carried  on  in  the  offices  of  the  Director  in  the  United 
Charities  Building. 

After  it  was  certain  that  not  all  the  money  would  be  re- 
quired for  relief  an  appropriation  was  made  at  the  suggestion  of 
the  Commissioner  of  Public  Charities  for  erecting  a  monument  on 
the  graves  of  the  unidentified  dead  in  Evergreen  Cemetery,  at  a 
cost  of  not  over  $2500.00.  This  will  be  designed  by  Mr.  Henry 
Bacon,  in  collaboration  with  Miss  Longman. 

Any  residue  of  the  fund,  under  the  by-laws  of  the  American 
Red  Cross,  will  be  transferred  to  the  Contingent  Relief  Fund  of 
the  American  Red  Cross.  This  Committee  has  recommended 
to  the  American  Red  Cross  that  this  balance  be  held  and  applied 
for  the  relief  of  any  suffering  which  may,  by  reason  of  any  future 
calamity,  come  within  the  jurisdiction  of  this  Committee  and 
for  which  its  activities  may  be  called  into  being. 

67 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 

On  the  following  pages  will  be  found  the  financial  statement; 
the  regulations  of  the  American  Red  Cross  which  refer  to  its  plan 
of  affiliation  with  the  charity  organization  societies  of  the  country 
for  relief  work  in  case  of  disasters ;  the  By-laws  of  the  Charity 
Organization  Society  of  the  City  of  New  York  as  its  institutional 
member  in  this  locality;  and  the  names  of  the  contributors  to 
this  fund. 


68 


APPENDIX  I 


FINANCIAL  STATEMENT 

March  25,  191 1,  to  April  10,  1912 

RECEIPTS 

Through  Hon.  Wm.  J.  Gaynor,  Mayor $23,009.97 

By  Treasurer  direct 80,872.75 

By   Director   (special  contribution  for  a  particular 

beneficiary) 16.66 

From  Kuhn,  Loeb  &  Co.,  interest  accrued  on  deposits 

to  December  29,  191 1 824.46  $104,723.84 


DISBURSEMENTS 

Relief $80,556.16 

Administration: 

Salaries  and  wages $1,696.83 

Telephone  and  telegraph 50.38 

Carfare  and  express 82.70 

Stationery  and  printing 57.65 

Postage 27.00 

Sundry 22.99      $  1, 937-55  $  82,493.71 

Balance  on  Hand  April  10,  1912 $  22,230.13* 

*A  balance  of  about  $19,000.00  will  probably  remain  after  meeting  the 
expense  of  erecting  the  monument  in  Evergreen  Cemetery,  the  cost  of  printing 
this  report,  and  final  incidental  expenses. 


69 


APPENDIX  II 


EXTRACT  FROM   THE    REGULATIONS    GOVERNING    INSTITU- 
TIONAL MEMBERSHIP  IN  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS 

In  1905  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  granted  a  special 
charter  to  The  American  National  Red  Cross.  The  fifth  para- 
graph of  Section  3  of  this  Charter,  describing  the  duties  of  the 
organization,  is  as  follows: 

And  to  continue  and  carry  on  a  system  of  national  and 
international  relief  in  time  of  peace  and  apply  the  same  in 
mitigating  the  sufferings  caused  by  pestilence,  famine,  fire, 
floods  and  other  great  national  calamities,  and  to  devise  and 
carry  on  measures  for  preventing  the  same. 

It  is  regarded  as  essential  to  bring  to  the  command  of  the 
Red  Cross,  for  emergency  work  in  the  relief  of  distress  following 
great  calamities,  trained  service  such  as  is  to  be  found  in  the 
ranks  of  well-organized  charitable  societies  in  the  larger  cities  of 
the  United  States. 

In  the  furtherance  of  this  object  there  has  been  created  an 
"Institutional  Membership"  of  The  American  National  Red 
Cross  into  which,  from  time  to  time,  are  to  be  invited  certain  of 
the  more  efficient  charity  organization  societies  of  the  country. 
(The  term  "charity  organization  society"  in  this  connection  is 
intended  to  include  societies  known  as  "Associated  Charities," 
"Societies  for  Organizing  Charity,"  "Bureaus  of  Charities,"  and 
other  agencies  conforming  to  recognized  charity  organization 
principles  and  standards.) 

In  the  event  of  a  disaster  requiring  large  and  unusual  meas- 
ures" of  relief,  the  institutional  member  in  the  community  in 
which  such  disaster  occurs,  as  the  executive  agent  of  the  Red 
Cross,  will  be  expected  to  take  instant  relief  action  in  the  name  of 
the  Red  Cross,  pending  the  arrival  of  the  National  Director. 
Such  emergency  relief  work  by  an  institutional  member  will  be 

70 


WASHINGTON  PLACE  FIRE 

under  the  supervision  of  the  National  Relief  Board  and  the  im- 
mediate direction  of  the  National  Director. 

An  institutional  member  will  not  be  required  to  collect  money 
or  supplies  for  Red  Cross  emergency  relief  purposes. 

An  institutional  member  is  to  be  solely  an  executive  agent. 

In  order  to  fulfill  its  functions  as  an  institutional  member  of 
the  Red  Cross,  a  charity  organization  society  is  expected  to  form 
a  Red  Cross  Emergency  Relief  Committee  with  representation 
thereon  of  the  local  Chapter  of  the  Red  Cross,  if  such  there  be. 
This  Committee  as  a  nucleus  committee  should  be  permanent, 
and  may  be  temporarily  enlarged  upon  the  occurrence  of  a 
disaster  requiring  large  and  unusual  emergency  relief  measures. 

An  institutional  member  is  also  expected,  when  practicable, 
to  send  one  or  more  trained  agents  to  participate  in  relief  work 
outside  of  its  own  community,  when  called  for  by  the  National 
Director. 


71 


APPENDIX  III 


EXTRACT  FROM   THE  BY-LAWS  OF  THE  CENTRAL  COUNCIL 
OF    THE    CHARITY   ORGANIZATION   SOCIETY   OF   THE 
CITY  OF  NEW  YORK,   DEFINING  THE   DUTIES 
OF  THE    RED   CROSS   EMERGENCY    RE- 
LIEF COMMITTEE 

Sec.  2.  The  sphere  of  action  of  the  Red  Cross  Emergency 
Relief  Committee  shall  include  whatever  territory  is  allotted  to 
it  from  time  to  time  by  the  National  Relief  Board  of  the  American 
Red  Cross. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  Committee  immediately  upon 
the  occurrence  within  this  allotted  territory  of  any  calamity 
requiring  unusual  measures  of  relief  to  determine  whether  this 
calamity  is  sufficiently  great,  and  requires  such  unusual  measures 
of  relief,  as  to  surpass  the  existent  charitable  resources  of  the 
region  wherein  it  occurred,  and  therefore  to  require  action  on  the 
part  of  the  American  Red  Cross,  and  if  requiring  action,  to  im- 
mediately communicate  its  judgment  in  this  particular  to  the 
National  Relief  Board  and  to  the  National  Director  of  the 
American  Red  Cross. 

In  case  the  Committee  shall  conclude  that  action  on  the  part 
of  the  American  Red  Cross  is  expedient,  it  shall,  in  concert  with 
the  officers  of  the  State  Branch  of  that  Society,  who  to  this  end 
are  made  ex  officio  members  of  the  Committee,  take  such  instant 
action  as  the  circumstances  warrant. 

This  action  shall  include  whatever  steps  are  necessary  to 
secure  the  appointment  by  any  governors,  mayors,  public  bodies 
or  citizens  acting  within  the  said  allotted  territory  of  a  special 
committee  or  committees  for  the  collection  of  funds  or  supplies 
for  relief,  to  be  administered  through  the  American  Red  Cross. 

The  Committee  shall  not  be  required  to  collect  funds  or 
supplies  for  the  emergency  relief  work  of  the  American  Red  Cross 
but  shall  be  charged  with  all  the  duties  of  this  Society  as  Insti- 
tutional Member  of  the  American  Red  Cross,  including  that  of 

72 


WASHINGTON  PLACE  FIRE 

acting  as  agent  in  the  application  of  relief  within  the  district 
allotted  to  this  Society,  procuring  upon  call  from  the  National 
Director  of  the  American  Red  Cross,  and  to  the  extent  of  this 
Society's  ability,  trained  agents  to  assist  in  the  Red  Cross 
emergency  relief  work  within  any  part  of  the  United  States, 
reporting  to  the  National  Relief  Board  and  sending  a  copy  of 
the  report  to  the  corresponding  State  Branch  of  the  American 
Red  Cross. 

Its  Chairman,  or  some  other  member  appointed  by  him,  shall 
be  the  delegate  of  the  Society  to  any  meeting  of  the  Board  of 
Incorporators  of  the  American  Red  Cross. 

It  may  temporarily  increase  its  members  to  act  during  the 
period  of  any  emergency,  and  may  create  special  committees  for 
the  same  purpose. 

If  the  emergency  comes  in  a  locality  where  a  Chapter  of  the 
American  Red  Cross  is  organized,  that  Chapter  shall  have  repre- 
sentation on  said  Committee. 

It  shall,  so  far  as  possible,  concentrate  and  co-ordinate  all 
efforts,  corporate  or  individual,  to  relieve  distress  occasioned  by 
any  great  calamity. 


73 


APPENDIX  IV 


CONTRIBUTORS  TO  THE  RELIEF  FUND 


Aarons,  Morris 

Aaronson,  Evelyn 

Abbott,  O.  B. 

Abelson,  Geo.  S. 

Abraham  and  Strauss 

Abrahams,  Mark  L. 

Abrahams,  Mark  L.,  and  Brother, 
Employees  of 

Abrahams,  Morris 

Abrahams,  Nathan 

Abrahams,  Sol.  H. 

Abrams,  Roman  and  Co.  and  em- 
ployees 

Academic  Club 

Acker,  Merrall  and  Condit  Co. 

Ackerman,  M.  L. 

Adelson,  Ph.,  and  Bro. 

Adelson,  Ph.,  and  Bro.,  Employees  of 

Adler  and  Ast 

Adler  and  Ast,  Employees  of 

Adler  and  Rotheroson 

Adler,  A.  S. 

Adler,  Mrs.  S. 

Adlerman,  Alexander 

Adlerman,  Israel  J.  P. 

Adler's  Young  Men's  Independent 
Association 

Aheloff,  Sam. 

Ahrend,  D.  H.,  and  Co. 

Alexander,  Andrew 

Alford,  C.  G.(  and  Co. 

Allen,  A. 

Allen,  Mrs.  Marshall  J. 

Allen-Nugent  Co. 

Allen,  Rosalie  H. 

Alsberg,  Irving  and  Co. 

Alsberg,  Wm.,  and  Co. 

Altenberg,  George 

Altman  and  Weinberg,  Employees  of 

Altmayer,  A.  R.,  In  memory  of 

Altschul,  C. 

American,  S. 

American  Art  Association 


American  Book  Co. 

American  Chicle  Co. 

American  Cloak  and  Suit  Review 

American  District  and  Western  Union 

Telegraph  Co.,  Employees  of 
American  Eagle  Lodge  15, 1. 0.  B.  A. 
American  Gem  and  Pearl  Co. 
American  Gown  Co.,  Employees  of 
American  Market  employees 
American  Negligee  Co. 
American  Rain  Coat  Co.,  Employees 

of 
American  Romper  Co. 
American  Tie  and  Timber  Co. 
Amici  Social  Club 
Amsterdam  Democratic  Club 
Anargyros,  S.,  Employees  of 
Anderson,  A.  V. 
Andrews,  W.  L. 
Anekstein,  I.,  and  employees 
Ansbacker,  A.  B. 
Antonowsky,  Benj.  S. 
Appel  Hat  Co.,  Employees  of 
Appelman,  Louis 
Arbuckle  Bros. 
Arctic  Club,  Inc. 
Arkin  and  Guild  and  employees 
Arlington  Skirt  Mfg.  Co. 
Armeny  and  Marion  Co. 
Arnold,  Mrs.  Wm.  E. 
Arnstein  Bros,  and  Co. 
Aronowitz,  D. 
Aronowitz,  Mrs.  R.  A. 
Aronson,  Max 
Aronson,  S. 
Aronson,  S.,  and  Co. 
Asher,  H.  F. 
Asiel  and  Co. 

Asinof,  Morris,  and  Son,  Employees  of 
Associated  Actresses  of  America 
Astor,  John  Jacob 
Atkin,  J. 
Atlantic  City  Lodge  494, 1.  O.  B.  B. 


74 


WASHINGTON    PLACE    FIRE 


Atlantic  Garden 

Atlas  Embroidery  Works 

Auerbach,  Louis,  Employees  of 

Auto  Strop  Safety  Razor  Co. 

Averett,  Abr. 

Ax,  Hyman 

Ayer,  F.  F. 

Aymar,  Edmund  B. 


Baar  and  Jones 

Baar  and  Jones,  Girls  employed  by 
Bach,  Biancha 
Bachelers,  The 

Baer,  Alfred,  and  Co.,  Employees  of 
Baer  Bros. 
Baer,  Hugo 
Baer,  Julius 
Baer,  Ludwig 
Baily,  William 
Baker,  Nellie 
Balagur,  Martin 
Balagur,  Martin,  Employees  of 
Balek,  M. 

Bamberg  and  Risser 
Bamberger,  Mrs.  A.  W. 
Bamberger,  Irving  W. 
Bancroft,  L.  H. 
Bannard,  Otto  T. 
Baptist  Temple,  Brooklyn 
Barcley,  James 
Bardon,  Thos.  F. 
Barnes,  Charles  B. 
Barnes,  Edward 
Barnes,  E.  H. 
Barnette,  Mrs.  E. 
Barondess,  Joseph 
Barron  Amusement  Co. 
Barrowsky,  H.  F. 
Barsotti,  Charles 
Baruch,  Harry  N. 
Baruch,  S. 
Batjer  and  Co. 
Bauer  and  Louis 
Baum,  E.,  for  S.  F.  S.  C. 
Baum,  Herman 
Bayles,  A. 

Beadleston  and  Woerz 
Bear,  Charles 
Beaver,  Victor 
Bebbenssee,  A.  N. 
Beckel,  Joseph,  and  Co. 
Beckhard,  Martin 
Beekman  and  Hays 
Beekman  and  Hays,  Employees  of 
Beekman  and  Hays,  Branch  No.  3, 
Employees  of 


Beekman,  Gerard 

Beer,  Sondheimer  and  Co.  Agency 

Beerman  and  Frank 

Beerman  and  Frank,  Employees  of 

Behal,  Arthur,  Co. 

Bell,  Mrs.  Lida  P. 

Bellamy,  Mrs.  Frederick  P. 

Bellinger,  W.  W. 

Belmont,  August,  and  Co. 

Bendheim,  A.  D. 

Bendheim,  Henry 

Benedict  and  Warner 

Benjamin,  F. 

Benjamin,  Wm.  M. 

Bennett,  David 

Benoliel,  D.  J. 

Berg  Bros. 

Berg  Bros.,  Employees  of 

Berger,  Samuel 

Berkson,  H. 

Berlin  Novelty  Co. 

Berliner,  Nathan,  and  Sol  S.  Marx 

Berliner,  Strauss  and  Meyer 

Berliner,  Strauss  and  Meyer,  Em- 
ployees of 

Bernhard,  Robt.,and  Co.,  Employees 
of 

Bernheim  and  Beer 

Bernheim  and  Sons,  Employees  of 

Bernheim,  C.  L. 

Bernheimer  and  Schwartz 

Bernheimer  Bros. 

Bernheimer  Bros.,  Employees  of 

Bernheimer,  Mrs.  Jacob  S. 

Bernstein,  Anna 

Bernstein,  Eva 

Bernstein,  Louis 

Bernstein,  Morris  J. 

Bernstein,  Paul 

Bernstein,  S.  and  C. 

Berolzheimer,  Philip 

Bialystoker  Y.  M.  A. 

Bieher,  Siegfried 

Bielefeld  and  Spahn,  Employees  of 

Bird,  George  W. 

Birkins,  W.  C. 

Bischofsheimer,  L.,  and  Son 

Bisco,  H.  S. — Hirshfeld  Co. 

Bisco,  H.  S. — Hirshfeld  Co.,  Em- 
ployees of 

Bishop,  W.  S.,  and  Co. 

Bishop,  William  Henry 

Bissell  Carpet  Sweeper  Co. 

Bistrong,  Jacob,  and  employees 

Bittner,  J. 

Black,  Wm.   and  Co.,  Employees  of 

Black,  W.  H. 


75 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 


Black,  William  Harmon 

Blanchard  and  Price  and  employees 

Blanck  and  Co. 

Blank,  Bernard  H. 

Blaskopf  and  Co.,  Employees  of 

Bleyer,  Max 

Bliss,  Miss 

Bliss,  William  H. 

Blitzer,  Pauline 

Bloch,  Alfred 

Bloch,  Bernhard 

Bloch,  Mrs.  H.  M. 

Bloch,  M.,  and  Co. 

Bloom  and  Millman 

Bloomingdale  Bros. 

Blue,  Anita  R. 

Blue  Bird  Bowling  Club 

Blum,  Morris 

Blumenkrohn,  Isidor 

Blumenkrohn,  S.,  Co.,  Employees  of 

Blumenthal  Bros. 

Blumenthal  Bros.,  Employees  of 

Blumenthal  and  Lang 

Bockian,  A.,  and  Co.,  Employees  of 

Bodenheimer  and  Jaskow 

Bodley,  Mrs.  Lena 

Bohemian  American  Israelite  Con- 
gregation 

Bonner  Mfg.  Co. 

Bonwit,  Teller  and  Co. 

Bonwit,  Teller  and  Co.,  Employees  of 

Bookman,  J.,  Estate  of 

Booth  Lunch,  Patrons  of 

Borden,  M.  C.  D. 

Borgenicht,  Kornreich  and  Co. 

Borgenicht,  Kornreich  &  Co.,  Em- 
ployees of 

Borgfeldt,  Geo.,  and  Co. 

Borough  President  of  Richmond 
Borough,  Employees  of 

Bourdis,  J.,  and  Co. 

Bouvier,  M.  C,  and  Co. 

Bowers,  Ogden  H. 

Boyd,  William  A. 

Boys  Athletic  Social  Club 

Bradley  Contracting  Co. 

Bradley,  E.  L. 

Bradshaw,  Anna 

Brambir,  M.,  Employees  of 

Brand,  Herman 

Brand,  Herman  A. 

Braunwarth-Weiss  Co.,  Inc. 

Braxmar,  C.  G.,  Co. 

Breidenbach,  Mrs.  R. 

Breitenbach,  W.  J. 

Breth,  Max,  and  employees 

Brill  and  Kriegsman 


Brill  and  Kriegsman,  Employees  of 

Brittain,  Wm.  F. 

Brokaw,  George  F. 

Bromeur,  M.,  through  I.  B.  Hyman 

Bronston  Bros,  and  Co. 

Bronx  Lodge  No.  871,  B.  P.  0.  E. 

Bronx  Union 

Brook  and  Rosenberg 

Brooklyn  Daily  Eagle,  Through 

Brooklyn  Daily  Times,  Through 

Brookman,  J.  L. 

Brooks,  Bertha  S. 

Brooks,  James 

Brown,  Franklin  Q. 

Brown,  Mrs.  George  Alexander 

Brown,  Wm.  Adams 

Brownold,  Mrs.  Chas.,  Jr. 

Buchsbaum,  Aaron,  Co. 

Buchstahl  and  Lewis,  Employees  of 

Buegeleisen  and  Jacobson 

Buhl,  Mrs.  Henrietta 

Bunke,  John 

Burke,  Mrs.  Alfred 

Buseck,  H. 

Bush,  Irving  T. 

Butler,  Beatrice 

Butler  Bros. 

Butler,  E.  M. 

Butzel,  Meyer 

Byrne,  James 


Caciappo,  Giovanni 

Cahn,  Minnie  H. 

Calderone,  S. 

California  Lodge  of  I.  O.  B.  A. 

Cammann,    Miss,   Collected    in    the 

shop  of 
Campbell,  Amelia  D. 
Campbell,  L.  H. 
Caplan,  Joseph 
Cardinal  Club 
Carey,  S. 

Carmody,  John  R. 
Carnegie,  Andrew 
Caroline  Aid  Society 
Carpenter,  C.  W. 
Carter,  Howe  and  Co. 
Carter  and  Sons 
Casino  Theatre,  Benefit,  Through  the 

Brooklyn  Citizen 
Caspary,  Jas.  A. 
Castagnetta,  I. 
Castelli,  Frank 
Chajem  Halberstamm  Lodge  No.  28, 

I.  O.  B.  A. 
Chambers,  Jared  J. 


76 


WASHINGTON    PLACE    FIRE 


Chancellor  Kent  Lodge  870,  F.  and 
A.  M. 

Chapman,  F.  A. 

Chelimer,  Morris  B. 

Chevra  Agudath  Achim 

Chevra  Kedusha  Anshe  Sekunim, 
through  Emil  Kuebl 

Chevra  Poel  Zedek  Anschei  I  Ilia 

Chibnik,  M. 

Chic  Dress  Co.,  Employees  of 

Chicago  Fuse  Mfg.  Co. 

Children  of  the  Temple  Beth-Sholom 
Sabbath  School 

Chinese  Weekly  Herald 

Choate,  Joseph  H. 

Choctaw  Democratic  Club 

Christian,  E.  D. 

Citizens  of  Bath  Beach,  through  the 
Plaza  Theatre,  Bath  Beach 

Clairmont  Club 

Clarke,  Letitia  D. 

Class  8B-1,  Public  School  No.  5 

Clausen,  George  U. 

Claussen,  M. 

Clerks  of  the  Wall  St.  P.  O. 

Clermont  Theatre 

Cloak,  Suit  and  Skirt  Manufacturers' 
Protective  Association 

Cloth  Spongers  Employers  Associa- 
tion 

Clug,  Rose 

Coffin  and  Co. 

Cohen  and  Kass,  Employees  of 

Cohen,  Adolph 

Cohen,  Adolph,  Employees  of 

Cohen,  A.  W.,  and  Bros.,  Employees  of 

Cohen,  Daniel 

Cohen,  H. 

Cohen,  Henry,  and  Co. 

Cohen,  Henry,  and  Co.,  Employees  of 

Cohen,  Henry  D. 

Cohen,  Isaac 

Cohen,  Lewis,  Co. 

Cohen,  M. 

Cohen,  Max,  and  Co.,  Employees  of 

Cohen,  N.  D. 

Cohen,  Samuel  L. 

Cohen,  Schulze  and  Co. 

Cohen,  Simon  R. 

Cohn,  Eli  G. 

Coleman,  Nathan 

Coley,  J.  A. 

Collord,  George  M. 

Colonial  Waist  Co. 

Columbus  Ave.  Office  of  W.  U.  and 
A.  D.  T.  Co.,  Employees  and  Mes- 
sengers of 


Comoro,  Max 

Composite  Lodge  819,  F.  and  A.  M. 

Condon,  John 

Cone  Export  and  Commission  Co. 

Cone,  Frederick  H. 

Congregation  Agudath  Achim  of 
Harlem 

Congregation  of  All  Souls  Episcopal 
Church 

Congregation  B'nai  Jacob 

Congregation  Keneseth  Israel,  Rich- 
mond, Va. 

Congregation  Mount  Sinai,  Brooklyn 

Congregation  Shaaray  Tenia 

Congregation  Temple  Beth  Sholom  of 
Brooklyn 

Conkling,  Alfred  R. 

Cook  and  Son 

Cook,  Geo.  D.,  and  Co. 

Cooke,  Theo.  R. 

Cooper  and  Forman 

Cooper,  Michael 

Cooper,  Michael,  Employees  of 

Corsiglia,  John  B. 

Cortelyou  Club  of  Brooklyn 

Cosmopolitan  Hall,  Benefit 

Cosmopolitan  Lodge  202,  K.  of  P. 

Costarella,  Antonio 

Costuma  and  Zimetbaum 

Court  Pride  of  Manhattan  463, 
F.  of  A. 

Court  Spinoza,  No.  102,  F.  of  A. 

Co  wen,  Mrs.  P. 

Cowperthwait  and  Sons 

Crane,  Jonathan  N. 

Crawford,  R.  L. 

Crescent  Mfg.  Co. 

Crimmins,  John  D. 

Crof  Bros. 

Crone,  Louis 

Cross  and  Beguelin 

Crossman  and  Sielcken 

Crotona  Lodge  560,  I.  O.  B.  A. 

Crystal,  David,  and  Co. 

Crystal,  David,  and  Co.,  Employees  of 

Cushman  and  Denison  Mfg.  Co. 

Cutting,  R.  Fulton 

Cutting,  W.  Bayard 


Daily  Jewish  Courier,  Through 
Daly,  Katherine  A. 
Danenbaum  Bros. 
Danziger,  Mrs.  Max 
Danziger  and  Sanville 
Darcy  Lodge  187,  F.  and  A.  M. 
Darrow,  W.  J. 


77 


EMERGENCY    RELIEF 


Daschner,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J. 

Daus,  Leonard  W. 

Daus,  Lillian 

Davenport,  Wm.  B. 

Davidow,  Wm.  HM  and  Bro. 

Davidow,  Wm.  H.,  and  Bro.,  Em- 
ployees of 

Davidson  and  Schwab,  Inc. 

Davidson,  I. 

Davidson,  Julius 

Davidson,  King  and  Co. 

Da  vies,  Clarence  J. 

Davis,  Casper,  and  Son,  Employees  of 

Davis,  Dina 

Davis,  Gherardi 

Davis,  Mark,  Sons  and  Co. 

Dawes,  Mrs.  Emily  M. 

Day,  Clark,  and  Co. 

Dazian,  Mrs.  M. 

Dean,  Charles 

Dean,  Mary 

de  Forest,  Robert  W. 

de  Guiscard,  A.  K. 

Deiches,  Mrs.  S. 

de  Lara,  David  C. 

Del  Castillo,  Rafael,  and  Co. 

Delli  Paoli,  A. 

de  Marco,  Celestine 

Demuth,  Wm.,  and  Co. 

Denver  Chemical  Mfg.  Co. 

Denver  Lunch 

Denzer  and  Nathan 

de  Rham,  H.  C. 

Dery,  D.  G. 

De  Sola  Bros,  and  Pardo 

De  Vinne  Press  Composing  Room, 
Through  R.  Friedman 

Devoy,  John  W. 

Devoy,  S.  Elizabeth 

Diamond,  Solomon 

Diaz,  J.  Solojano 

Dick,  Frank  M. 

Dickenson,  W.  N. 

Dickey,  Chas.  D. 

Didisheim,  Hipp  and  Bro. 

Dinkelspiel  and  Davis 

Dix,  Henry  A.,  and  Sons  Co. 

Dix,  John  A. 

Dodge,  Cleveland  H. 

Doelger,  Peter 

Doering,  George 

Doernberg,  Edwin  J. 

Dolewit,  M.  A. 

Doob,  M.,  Sons  and  Co. 

Dormitzer,  Henry 

Dougherty,  J.  Hampden 

Douglas,  W.  H. 


Downey,  Chas.  F.,  and  Co. 
Dreicer  and  Co. 
Dreyer,  August 
Drucker,  Sol.,  and  Co. 
Druckerman,  Mrs.  E. 
Druckerman,  M. 
Druss,  B.,  and  Son 
Dry  Goods  Economist 
Dunn,  R.  G.,  and  Co. 
Dupree,  Minnie 
Duval,  Herman 


Eastern  District  Camp,  M.  W.  A. 

Eastman,  Joseph 

East  Side  Branch,  N.  Y.  C,  United 
Master  Butchers  of  America 

Eckstein,  Mrs.  Irving 

Eckstein,  Irving  H. 

Ecuadorian  Panama  Hat  Co.,  Em- 
ployees of 

Eder,  Frederick 

Edinger,  Belle  G. 

Educational  Alliance  Girls  Associa- 
tion 

Educational  League  of  Greater  N.  Y. 

Egan,  Violet  M. 

Ehret,  George 

Ehrmann,  Mrs.  Ernest 

Eichberg  and  Co. 

Eidlitz,  Marc,  and  Son 

Einstein,  J. 

Einstein,  Walter  S. 

Einstein,  Wolff,  and  Co. 

Eiseman,  Samuel,  and  Co. 

Eisenbach  Bros,  and  Co. 

Eisenberg,  E. 

Eisler,  Anthony 

Eisman,  Max 

Eisner,  J.,  and  Co.,  Employees  of 

Eitington,  W.,  and  Co. 

Elfenbein,  Ginsberg  and  Peterson 

Elfenbein,  Ginsberg  and  Peterson, 
Employees  of 

Elias,  Henry,  Brewing  Co. 

Elisberg,  Joel 

Eliscu,  Edward 

Elkins  Relief  Corps  of  Elkins,  W.  Va. 

Elks,  B.  P.  O.,    N.  Y.  Lodge  No.  I 

Elmor,  Lincoln,  Employees  of 

Elsas,  Lucile  R. 

Elvin,  Mr. 

Ely,  Horace  S.,  and  Co. 

Emanu-El  Brotherhood  Social  House 

Emanuel  Literary  Society 

Emanuel,  Victor  R. 

Embroidered  Garment  Co. 


78 


WASHINGTON    PLACE    FIRE 


Engel  and  Kraus 

Engel  and  Kraus,  Employees  of 

Epstein  and  Levy  and  employees 

Epstein-Chas.  Douglis  Co. 

Epstein,  I.,  Employees  of 

Epstein,  M. 

Epstein,  Morris 

Erlanger  and  Reis 

Erlanger,  Abraham 

Ernst,  Alice  L. 

Erstein,  L.,  and  Bro. 

Essenfeld  and  Co.,  Employees  of 

Estherson,  Norma  E. 

Ettelson,  Henry 

Ettenson,  Abraham 

Evening  Recreation  Center  No.  62 

Evens,  Nathan  I. 

Excelsior  Quilting  Co. 


Fabien,  Ben. 

Fabricant,  Barnet 

Falcon  Packing  Co. 

Falk,  Benno 

Falk,  Wm.  J. 

Fall  River  Lodge  355,  O.  B.  A. 

Fan  Court  Club,  University  Settle- 
ment 

Farmer,  Albert  J. 

Fashion  Mfg.  Co. 

Fatman,  Morris 

Favorite  Skirt  Co.  and  employees 

Fear,  Fred,  and  Co. 

Feder,  Mrs.  Rose 

Feicher,  Jacob 

Feiner,  Benj.  F.  and  B.  F.  F.,  Jr. 

Feins,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  D. 

Fels,  William,  Inc. 

Fels,  William,  Inc.,  Employees  of 

Felsenthal  Bros. 

Feltenstein,  A.,  Employees  of 

Fenster  and  Bernstein 

Fera  and  Kadison 

Fernald,  J.  C. 

Fernbach  and  Schulman 

Fette,  Otto 

Fidler,  N. 

Finelite,  Abraham 

Fingerhut,  Samuel 

First,  Charles  S.  M. 

First,  Phil. 

First  Congregational  Church 

First  Consul  Cigar  Factory 

First  Consul  Cigar  Factory,  Em- 
ployees of 

First  Skirt  Designers'  Association, 
through  L.  Friedman 


First  and  Gurian  and  employees 

Fisk,  Pliny 

Fitzgerald,  Margaret  M. 

Flegenheimer  Bros.,  Inc. 

Fleitmann  and  Co. 

Fletcher,  Chas.  H. 

Floersheimer  Co. 

Floersheimer  Co.,  Employees  of 

Floersheimer,  Samuel 

Floersheimer,  Samuel,  and  Bro.,  Em- 
ployees of 

Floyd,  R.  D. 

Flusser,  Mrs.  C. 

Focacci,  Eugene 

Foise,  Elias  L. 

Fondeville  and  Van  Iderstine 

Forsythe,  John,  Employees  of 

Fortuna  Ladies  Benevolent  Society 

Foster,  Edw.  W. 

Fox,  Benjamin 

Fox,  Samuel 

Franck,  Henry,  Sons  and  Co. 

Franco  American  Electric  Novelty 
Co. 

Frank  Brothers 

Frank,  B.,  and  Sons 

Frank,  Edw.,  and  Co.,  Employees  of 

Frank,  Helene  Judith 

Frank,  Mrs.  M. 

Frank  and  Bauer  and  employees 

Frankel  Brothers 

Frankel  Brothers,  Employees  of 

Frankenthal,  A. 

Frankenthal  Bros,  and  Co. 

Frankenthal  Bros,  and  Co.,  Em- 
ployees of 

Franklin,  Ab.  and  A.,  Employees  of 

Franklin  Lodge  447,  F.  and  A.  M. 

Franklin,  Simon,  and  Co. 

Franks  Bros,  and  Barsha 

Fraser,  Mrs.  Wm.  D. 

Freedman  Bros.,  Employees  of 

Freid,  Drew  and  Jacobs 

Freiman,  David 

Freitag  and  Keim 

Frelinghuysen,  Theodore 

French,  Daniel  Chester 

Freudenheim  Bros,  and  Son 

Freudenheim,  J.,  and  Son 

Freund,  Mrs.  E. 

Freund,  Hy  and  Bros. 

Freyberg,  M. 

Friday  Night  Club 

Fried,  John 

Fried,  Mendelson  and  Co. 

Friedenwald,  Dr.  and  Mrs. 

Friedland,  E.  and  E.  Cone 


79 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 


Friedlander  and  Bartnowsky 

Friedlander,  R.  L.  and  M. 

Friedman  and  Krieger 

Friedman,  Mrs.  H. 

Friedman,  H.  P.,  and  Bro. 

Friedman,  K. 

Friedman,  Louis  J. 

Friend  and  Fleisch 

Fries,  Joseph 

Frolic  Club,  Inc. 

Frolichstein,  England  and  Klein,  Inc. 

Fuchs,  Max 

Fuld,  I. 

Fuller  Bowling  Club 


Gade,  Henry 

Gaiety  Theatre,  Danville,  Penna. 

Galezien   Friedman   Lodge    No.    71, 

I.  O.  B.  A. 
Gallert,  S.  M.,  and  Co. 
Gallert,  S.  M.,and  Co.,  Employees  of 
Gandolfi,  L. 
Garcia,  F.,  and  Bros. 
Gaynor,  Wm.  J. 
Geishewitz,  B.  L. 
Gem  Waist  Co. 
George,  B.  V. 
Gerlken,  Chas.  P.,  and  Co. 
Gershel,  A.,  and  Co. 
Gerstenzang  Bros. 
Giangrasso,  Leonardo 
Gilbert,  Clara 
Gilbert,  Wm.  L.,  Clock  Co. 
Gilman,  Anna  C. 
Ginsberg,  Samuel 
Ginsburg  and  Lapidus 
Ginsburg,  S.  L. 
Girdany,  M.  L. 
Girls  Benevolent  Society 
Girls'  Club,  Doe  Ye  Nexte  Thynge 

Society 
Girls    Friendly    Society,    St.    James 

Branch 
Girls  Progressive  Club  of  Milwaukee, 

Wis. 
Gittleson,  Louis 
Giunta,  Stephen 
Giveen  Mfg.  Co. 
Glass,  Henry,  and  Co. 
Glassman,  L. 
Glazier,  Henry  S. 
Glazier,  Mrs.  S.  W. 
Globus,  A. 
Glogan,  Otto 
Gluck,  David  M. 
Glucksman,  H. 


Glueck,  Morris  J. 

Goldberg,  H.  S. 

Goldberg,  Ph. 

Goldberg,  S.  M.,  through  LB.  Hyman 

Goldberg,  Samuel  J. 

Goldman  Costume  Co. 

Goldman  and  Marx 

Goldman,  M. 

Goldman,  Mrs.  Rosie 

Goldman,  Sachs  and  Co. 

Goldmark,  Chas. 

Goldschmidt  and  Co. 

Goldsmith  Bros.  Smelting  and  Re- 
fining Co. 

Goldsmith,  Hannah,  for  "a  few 
friends" 

Goldstein,  Davidson  and  Sondheimer 

Goldstein,  Hattie 

Goldstein,  I. 

Goldstein,  Mrs.  I.  I. 

Goldstein,  Seig 

Goldston,  Al.,  and  Co. 

Goldston,  Nat.,  and  Co. 

Golston,  Nat.,  and  Co.,  Employees  of 

Goldstone,  A.  H. 

Goldstone,  Samuel 

Goldstone,  Samuel,  Employees  of 

Goldwasser,  Philip 

Goldwasser,  Sadie  A. 

Goldwasser,  Mrs.  Samuel 

Goldwasser,  S.  R. 

Gollon,  Frank  P. 

Good,  Brent 

Goodfriend  Bros. 

Goodhart  and  Co. 

Goodman  and  Baum 

Goodman  and  Mandel 

Goodman,  A.,  and  Son,  and  employees 

Goodman,  M.,  and  Co. 

Goodman,  S.,  and  Co. 

Goodman,  Mrs.  Samuel 

Gootman,  M.,  and  Co. 

Gordon  Lodge  No.  173,  Sons  of  St. 
George 

Gordon,  N. 

Gordon,  P.,  Employees  of 

Gospel  Settlement,  Ten  Clubs  of 

Goss,  A. 

Gotham  Club 

Gottheil,  Richard 

Graf  and  Graf 

Graham,  Edith  Lane 

Grand  Lodge  and  Lodges  of  the  Or- 
der of  Treue  Schwestern 

Granger,  Mrs. 

Grats,  Will 

Gray,  Mary  M. 


80 


WASHINGTON    PLACE    FIRE 


Greason,  John  R. 
Greater  New  York  Aid  Society- 
Greco,  V.  Cav. 
Gredinger,  I.,  for  the  "employees  of  a 

Broadway  House" 
Green  and  Nathan 
Green,  Asher 
Greenbaum  Bros. 
Greenberg,  H.,  Employees  of 
Greenfield's,  E.,  Sons 
Greenhall,  Albert  W. 
Greenleaf,  Mary  R. 
Greenough,  Mrs.  Wm. 
Greer,  David  H. 
Griffing,  C.  H. 
Gross  and  Weiss 
Gross  and  Weiss,  Employees  of 
Gross   Philip  G. 
Grushoff,  A. 

Guggenheimer,  Mrs.  A.  S. 
Guidone,  Pasquale 
Guiterman,  E.  W. 
Gulden,  Chas. 
Gutfreund,  Mr. 


Haan,  R.  M. 

Haas,  Samuel 

Haftel,  Morris 

Hahn,  Berthold 

Hale,  William  E. 

Hall  and  Arbes 

Hall,  Mrs.  F.  J.  S. 

Hall,  Kathryn 

Halsey,  Charles  D. 

Hamburg,  Louis 

Hamburger,  Mabel 

Hand,  T.  James 

Handel  and  Harris 

Handel  and  Harris,  Employees  of 

Hanges,  George 

Hanley,  Miss 

Harkness,  E.  S. 

Harkness,  Stephen  V. 

Harkness,  W.  L. 

Harlem  Lodge  No.  281,  K.  of  P. 

Harlem  Lodge  No.  39, 1.  0.  F.  Sons  of 

Judah 
Harlem  Wohltaetigskeits  Verein 
Harmer  and  Schwartz 
Harris,  Alex.  H. 
Harris  Bros,  and  Barnett 
Harris  Bros,  and  Barnett,  Employees 

of 
Harris,  Forbes  and  Co. 
Harris,  I.  A.,  and  Bro. 
Harris,  I.  A.,  Employees  of 


Harris,  John  F. 

Harris,  Julian  A. 

Hart,  H.  D. 

Hartshorn,  Cora  L. 

Harvey  and  Outerbridge 

Harzfeld,  S. 

Hatfield,  Henry  R. 

Healey,  Floyd  S. 

Hebrew  Ladies  Aid  Society  of  Knox- 
ville,  Tenn. 

Hebrew  Ladies  Auxiliary  of  Bath 
Beach 

Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  Children  of 

Hebrew  Tabernacle  Association 

Hecht  and  Campe,  Inc. 

Hecht  and  Co.,  Employees  of 

Hedges,  Wm.  S.,  and  Co. 

Heide,  Henry 

Heimerdinger,  Geo.  C,  Co.,  Work- 
rooms of 

Heimlich,  A.  and  B. 

Heller,  E.,  and  Co. 

Heller,  I.,  and  Co. 

Heller,  L.,  and  Son 

Hellinger,  Paul 

Henbert  Silk  Co. 

Henderson,  Mary  V. 

Henriques,  C.  \. 

Henry,  L.,  and  Co. 

Henryson,  L.  P.,  and  Co.,  Employees 
of 

Herakowitz,  Hyman 

Herder  Lodge  No.  698,  F.  and  A.  M. 

Herman,  Alexander 

Herpers  Bros. 

Herrman,  Henry  S. 

Herrman,  Henry  S.,  Jr. 

Herrmann,  Nathan 

Hersh,  Philip 

Hertzberg,  L. 

Hertzel,  Ben. 

Herzberg,  Nellie  M. 

Herzig  and  Rappaport 

Herzig  and  Rappaport,  Employees  of 

Hess,  Goldsmith  and  Co. 

Hess,  Julian  S.,  et  al. 

Hess,  M.  H. 

Hesslein,  Rosalie 

Heye,  Carl  V. 

Heyman  Bros. 

Heyman,  Chas.  E. 

H.  H.  H.  Society  of  Long  Branch, 
N.J. 

Hicks,  Thomas  P. 

Higgins,  Chas.  M.,  and  Co. 

Hill,  Percival  S. 

Hills,  Alfred  K. 


8l 


EMERGENCY    RELIEF 


Hirsch  and  Cohen 

Hirsch  and  Cohen,  Employees  of 

Hirsch-Cohen-Wise  Co. 

Hirsch-Cohen-Wise  Co.,  Employees 
of 

Hirsch  and  Flashner 

Hirsch,  Leon 

Hirsch,  Sigmund 

Hirsch,  Walter  A. 

Hirschberg  and  Kohn 

Hirschberg,  Sig. 

Hirsh,  E.  B.,  and  Co.  and  employees 

Hirsh,  Johanna 

Hitch,  E.  V. 

Hitchcock,  May 

Hoblitt,  F.  M. 

Hoboken,  J.  S. 

Hochberger,  I. 

Hochheimer,  Albert,  and  Co.,  and 
employees 

Hodgman  Rubber  Co. 

Hoffman,  Charles  L. 

Holborn,  Henry  W. 

Holbrook,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 

Hollow  and  Perlow 

Holtzberg,  J.,  and  Sons 

Holzman,  S.  L. 

Horowitz  Bros. 

Horowitz,  Morris 

Horsman,  E.  I.,  and  Co. 

Horwitz  and  Goodman 

Housman,  A.  A.,  and  Co. 

Howell,  B.  H.,  Son  and  Co. 

Howell-Hinchman  Co. 

Hoyt,  George  S. 

Hoyt,  Theodore  R. 

Huberty,  Peter  P. 

Hudson  Milling  Co.,  Employees  of 

Hunter,  Mrs.  Joseph 

Huntington,  Alice 

Hutchins,  H.  A. 

Hutzler,  Morten  D. 

Huxter,  Fannie 

Huyler's 

Hyman  and  Oppenheim  and  em- 
ployees 

Hyman,  B.,  and  Shevell  Co. 

Hyman,  D.  M. 

Hyman,  I.  B.,  and  Co. 

Hyman,  I.  B.,  and  Co.,  Employees  of 

Hyman,  M.,  and  Co. 

Hyman,  S.  and  E.,  and  Sons 

Hyman,  S.  I.,  and  Bro. 


Ideal  Costume  Co.  and  employees 
Ideal  S.  and  B.  Mfg.  Co. 


Iger,  Chas.  W.  and  Bro. 

Ikle  Freres  and  Co. 

Illoway,  Nettie 

Imperial  Clothing  Specialty  Co.,fEm- 

ployees  of 
Independent    Elizabethgrad     Ladies 

B.  A. 
Independent    Harlem    Sick    Support 

Society 
Independent  Montefiore  Lodge    No. 

125,  I.  O.  B.  A. 
Independent  Order  B'nai  B'rith,  Dist. 

Lodge  No.  1 
Independent  Order  B'rith  Abraham 
Independent    Order    Free    Sons    of 

Israel 
Ind.  Unt.  Verein 
Ingram,  Anna  A. 
Inslee,  Miss 
Installment  Dealers 
Interboro     Association     of     Women 

Teachers 
International  Press 
Iroquois    Memorial    Association     of 

Chicago,  through  J.  E.  O.  Pridmon 
Irving    Literary    Society    of     Clark 

House 
Irving  Place  Theatre 
Isaac,  I.,  and  Co. 
Isaacs,  Charles,  and  Kruskal 
Isaacs,  E. 
Isaacs,  Harry 
Isaacs,  Herman 

Isaacson,  H.  B.,  and  Son,  and  em- 
ployees 
Isaacson,  S. 
Iselin,  Mrs.  Columbus  O'D. 


Jackson,  A.  A. 

Jackson,  E.  A. 

Jackson,  J.  P. 

Jackson,  S.  S.,  Mfg.  Co. 

Jackson's 

Jacob,  A.  G. 

Jacobi,  A. 

Jacobs  and  Pell 

Jacobs,  Edward 

Jacobs,  Henry  A.,  and  Co. 

Jacobs,  I.  Randolph,  and  Co. 

Jacobs,  Minnie 

Jacobs,  Mrs.  Minnie 

Jacobs,  Mrs.  S. 

Jacobs,  Samuel 

Jacobs,  Sol.  J. 

Jacobson,  A.,  and  Bro. 

Jacobson  Bros. 


82 


WASHINGTON    PLACE    FIRE 


Jacobson,  Nathan  H.,  and  Co. 

Jacoby,  H.,  and  Co. 

Jaffe,  A.,  and  Son 

Jaffe,  Bernard 

Jaffe,  Joshua  A. 

Jaffer,  Barnet 

James  Maher  Association,  Benefit 
ball  of 

Jarmulowsky,  S. 

Jaroslauer  Lodge  No.  21,  I.  O.  B.  A. 

Jarrett,  L. 

Jason,  A. 

Jeffrey,  Alex.  McL. 

Jenny  Lind  Cigar  Factory,  Employees 
of 

Jewellers  Board  of  Trade  (Con- 
tributors entered  individually) 

Jewish  Citizens  of  Clarksdale,  Miss. 

Jewish  Daily  News,  Readers  of 

Jewish  Morning  Journal,  Through 

Jewish  Theological  Seminary  of 
America,  Students  of 

Jolly  Girls  Club  of  Bath  Beach 

Jonas  and  Naumburg 

Jonas,  William,  and  Co. 

Jones,  Bridget  N. 

Joseph,  Dave 

Joseph,  Mrs.  Sam. 

Juda  Bros. 

Judson,  A.  L. 

Justice  Lodge  No.  26,  I.  O.  F.  S.  of 
Judah 

Juweles,  N.,  Ladies  Tailoring  Shop, 
Employees  of 


Kahn,  L.  and  M.,  and  Co. 

Kahn,  M.  S. 

Kahn,  Theresa  S. 

Kahn,  Weiss,  and  Feig 

Kane,  John  Innes 

Kanter,  M. 

Kaplan,  D.,  and  Co. 

Kaplan,  Joseph 

Kaplan,  Phoebus 

Kaplan,  S. 

Katcher,  A.  D.,  and  Bro.,  Employees 

of 
Katz,  Harry 

Kaufman,  Mrs.  Edward  S. 
Kaufman,  Mrs.  L. 
Kaufman,  Mrs.  Leopold 
Kaye,  Charles 
Kehoe,  Clara  E. 
Kellar,  Chas..  and  Co. 
Kellogg,  F.  R. 
Kempner,  A.  W. 


Keneseth  Israel 

Kent  and  Woodland 

Kernochan,  J.  Frederic 

Ketcham  and  McDougall 

King,  Horatio  C. 

King,  Julius,  Optical  Co. 

Kingsberg  Lodge  No.  36,  0.  B.  A. 

Kings  County  Cigar  Factory 

Kings  Daughters  of  Sea  Cliff  M.  E. 
Church 

Kinscherf,  Wm.,  Co. 

Kisch  Mfg.  Co. 

Kisch  Mfg.  Co.,  Employees  of 

Klauber  Bros,  and  Co. 

Klee  and  Co.,  Employees  of 

Klein,  Fred.  E. 

Klein,  Jos.  Co. 

Klein,  Perle  H. 

Klein,  William 

Klingenstein  Bros,  and  Co. 

Klinger  and  Bach 

Klinger  and  Bach,  Employees  of 

Klitz,  J.  D. 

Klug,  Samuel 

Knapp,  Edward  M.  H. 

Knauth,  Nachod  and  Kuhne 

Knickerbocker  Brass  Goods  Co.,  Em- 
ployees of 

Knickerbocker  Lunch,  Brooklyn 

Knobel  and  Bloom 

Knobel  and  Bloom,  Employees  of 

"Knockout"  Brown 

Knoedler,  M.,  and  Co. 

Kobre's,  Max,  Bank,  Employees  of 

Koch,  Jonas 

Koch,  Victor,  Hair  Goods  Co.,  Young 
lady  employees  of 

Koenigsberger,  Mrs.  H. 

Koffler,  Samuel 

Kohl,  F.  E. 

Kohl,  Mrs.  J. 

Kohnstamm,  H.,  and  Co. 

Kollisch,  Miss 

Kolomear  Young  Men's  and  Young 
Ladies  Benevolent  Association 

Konijn,  Frank  and  Shire 

Koplik,  J.  B.,  and  Co. 

Koppleman,  Morris 

Kops  Bros. 

Kornfeld,  Alfred  E. 

Korones  Bros. 

Korones  Bros.,  Employees  of 

Kram  and  Match 

Kram,  Jacob  N. 

Kraslow  Construction  Co. 

Kraus  Bros,  and  Co. 

Kremelberg  and  Co. 


83 


EMERGENCY    RELIEF 


Kresel,   Meistrich    and    Weiner  and 

employees 
Krieger,  J. 
Krilow,  Isaac 
Kroniner   Young   Men's   Benevolent 

Association 
Kronman,  Nathan,  and  Co 
Krooks,  Robert  E. 
Krower  and  Tynberg 
Krower  and  Tynberg,  Employees  of 
Kuh,  E.  S. 
Kuhlert,  John 
Kuhn,  Edward 
Kurzrok  Bros. 

Kurzrok  Bros.  Factory,  Employees  of 
Kushtrin,  Mrs.  R. 
Kuttner,  Mrs.  Morris 


Lachman,  Henrietta  C. 

Lack  Mfg.  Co. 

Ladies  Aux.  Soc.  of  Temple  Emanu-El 
of  Brooklyn 

Ladies  Hebrew  Benevolent  Society  of 
Greenpoint 

Ladies  Society,  Benos  Zione,  Brook- 
lyn 

Lady  Rose  Society 

Laguna,  Adolph 

Lahm  and  Jurow 

Lahm  and  Jurow,  Employees  of 

Lamb,  Finlay  and  Co. 

Lambie,  F.  D. 

Lamont,  John,  and  Son 

Lane,  J.  H.,  and  Co. 

Langor,  M. 

Lapidus,  L.  W.,  and  employees 

Lascelles,  Helen 

Latone  and  Guidetti 

Lauer,  William  E. 

Lavenburg,  Milly 

Lazansky,  Edward 

Lazarus,  M.  H. 

Leader,  M. 

Lefcourt  and  Schulhof 

Lefferts  Park  Improvement  League 

Lefkowitz,  I. 

Leggatt,  Wm.  P. 

Lehman  Bros. 

Lehren  Bros. 

Leibovitz,  Philip  M. 

Leibowitz,  Adolph 

Leibowitz,  Fred 

Leime,  Clara 

Leiperi,  Julius  K. 

Leir,  A.  W. 

Lemlein,  Julia 


Leo  Amusement  Company,  Port 
Richmond 

Lesser-Kalb  Mfg.  Co. 

Leventhal  and  Vogel 

Leventhal,  A.  N. 

Levi,  Albert  A. 

Levi,  Simson  and  Co. 

Levi,  Sondheimer  and  Co. 

Levine  and  Keller 

Levine  Bros. 

Levine,  J.  Clarence 

Levinson,  A. 

Levy  and  Julius 

Levy  and  Julius,  Employees  of 

Levy,  Alice  and  Edith 

Levy  Dairy  Co. 

Levy,  E.  B.  and  A.  B. 

Levy,  Emil 

Levy  Goodman  Co. 

Levy,  Henry 

Levy-Hussey  Co. 

Levy,  Jacob  and  Nathan 

Levy,  Mrs.  L. 

Levy,  William 

Lewensohn,  Louis 

Lewis,  Arthur  J. 

Lewit,  Louis,  Employees  of 

Libman,  F. 

Lichtenstein  Millinery  Co. 

Lichtman,  Mrs. 

Liebmann's  Sons  Brewing  Co. 

Liebowitz,  A. 

Light  and  Schlesinger 

Light  and  Schlesinger,  Employees  of 

Lily  of  France  Corset  Co.,  Em- 
ployees of 

Lincoln,  Mrs.  E.  R. 

Linkletter,  Mrs.  D. 

Liondale  Bleach,  Dye,  and  Print 
Works 

Lipman,  Charles  K. 

Lippmann,  David 

Lippmann,  George 

Lipsky,  Charles 

Lisman,  F.  J.,  and  Co. 

Lissauer  and  Co. 

Lissner,  H.,  and  Co. 

Little,  C.  W. 

Litwin,  K.  I. 

Livingston  Nail  Co. 

Loeb  and  Schoenfeld  Co. 

Loeb,  Morris 

Loeser,  Frederick,  and  Co. 

Loewenthal  and  Marcus 

Loewenthal  and  Marcus,  Employees 
of 

Loewenthal,  J. 


84 


WASHINGTON    PLACE    FIRE 


Loewer's,  V.,  Gambrinus  Brewing  Co. 

Loew's,  Marcus,  Enterprises 

Loewy  and  Samuels 

Loewy,  L.,  and  Son 

Loewy,  L.,  and  Son,  Employees  of 

Loggia  Benvenuto  Cellini 

Lohn  and  Jarow 

Long,  C.  F. 

Lorsch,  Albert,  and  Co. 

Loth,  Moritz,  and  Co. 

Loughlin,  Peter  J. 

Louis     Kossuth     Lodge     No.     749, 

I.  O.  O.  F. 
Loveman,  Mrs.  H.  P. 
Lovinson,  A. 
Low,  Seth 
Low  and  Florenzie 
Lowe,  Frederick  R. 
Lowenfeld,  Isaac 

Lowenstein  and  Nepel,  Employees  of 
Lowenstein,  M.,  and  Sons 
Lubliner,  Solomon 
Luchow,  Mrs.  Wm.  V.  I. 
Ludeke,  A.,  and  Co. 
Ludlam,  Austin 
Ludlam,  George  P. 
Luery,  Alfred 
Luft  and  Luft 
Luhres,  F.  P. 
Lunevsky,  S. 

Luning,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  N. 
Lurie,  Gus,  and  Co.,  Inc. 
Lyons,  Stadholz  and  Co. 


McBurney,  Charles 

McCagg,  Mrs.  Louis  B. 

McCaffrey,  Geo.  E. 

McCorkle,  J.  A.,  through  the  Brook- 
lyn Bureau  of  Charities 

McDermott  Dairy  Co.,  Store  Dept. 
No.  2,  Employees  of 

McDonald,  A.  B. 

McGuire,  Thomas  F. 

McKibbin,  Geo.,  and  Son 

McLaughlin,  Thos.  J. 

McMillin,  Emerson 

McNabb,  Thomas  H. 

Machzikei  Talmud  Torah  of  Borough 
Park,  160  pupils 

Machzikei  Talmud  Torah  School 
Auxiliary 

Mack,  Jacob  W. 

Mack,  Leo  C. 

Mackelvey  and  Co. 

Macy,  R.  H.,  and  Co. 

Madison,  Emma  L. 


Maillard,  Henry 

Mainzer,  Mrs.  Martha 

Mainzer,  Robert  H. 

Maisner  and  Co. 

Majestic  Mfg.  Co. 

Mailer,  Daniel 

Maloney  Co. 

Mamluck,  Julius,  and  Co. 

Manasch  Waist  Co. 

Mandel,  L.,  and  Co. 

Mandell,  Joseph 

Mandeville,  Charles  G. 

Manhattan  Briar  Pipe  Co. 

Manhattan  Wash  Suit  Co.,  Em- 
ployees of 

Manheimer,  Jacob 

Manheimer,  Louis,  and  Bros. 

Mann,  Mrs.  Herman 

Mann,  Wm.  H.,  and  Co. 

Manson,  Max,  and  Son  and  em- 
ployees 

Marburg,  Wm. 

Marchand  Freres 

Marcovitch,  N. 

Marcus,  Jennie 

Margon  Club 

Margosin,  Philip 

Marine  Trades  Council  167 

Marks,  Henry 

Marlowe  Mfg.  Co.  and  Yvette  Co., 
Employees  of,  and  friends 

Marsh,  James  E. 

Marshall,  Louis 

Martin,  M.,  and  Co. 

Marx,  Charles 

Marx,  Mrs.  S. 

Marx  and  Feinberg 

Masiello,  Joseph 

Mass,  Isaac  H. 

Mathews,  Anna  C. 

Mattox,  E.  T. 

Mautner,  Julius 

Mautrick  Bros. 

Mayer,  David,  Brewing  Co. 

Mayer,  Edward  L. 

Mayer,  F. 

Mayer,  Jacob 

Mayer,  Louis,  Employees  of 

Mayer,  Martin,  and  Co. 

Mayer,  Max 

Mayer,  Milton 

Mayers  and  Lester 

Mayne  and  Levy 

Maynz,  Emanuel 

Mecca,  Luigi 

Meckauer,  Henry 

Meeder,  Frederick  H. 


85 


EMERGENCY   RELIEF 


Mehrlust,  J. 

Meinhard,  Leo  I.,  Co. 

Meinhardt  Co.,  Employees  of 

Melcher,  John  S. 

Melrose  Dancing  Academy,  Benefit 

Mendel,  Goldstein  and  Ullmann 

Mendel,  Goldstein  and  Ullmann,  Em- 
ployees of 

Mendelsohn,  Bornemann  and  Co. 

Mendelssohn  Benevolent  Society 

Mendham,  L.  P. 

Mendoza,    Mark,    Isaac,  and   Aaron 

Menorah  Society  of   Columbia  Uni- 
versity 

Menkes,  I. 

Merrill,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edwin  G. 

Metholoid  Co. 

Metropolitan   Life    Insurance   Com- 
pany 

Metropolitan  Opera  House  Benefit  of 
Association  of  Theatre  Managers 

Meyer,  Arnold  Jules 

Meyer,  Goldberg  and  Sons 

Meyer,  H.  D. 

Meyer,  Isi 

Meyer,  Mrs.  Jeanne 

Meyer,  John  H.  W. 

Meyer,  K.  A. 

Meyer,  Lea  Celestine 

Meyer,  Miriam  and  Bernard 

Meyer,  T.  S. 

Meyers,  Louis,  and  Son 

Mezeritzky  and  Miller 

Mezie,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 

Michaelson,  Louis 

Middleton  and  Co. 

Mikola  and  Bro. 

Milano,  Joseph 

Milbauer,  H.,  and  employees 

Milbert 

Millard  Amusement  Co. 

Miller,  Harry 

Miller,  Max  B. 

Mills,  Ogden  L. 

Milstein,  S. 

Milton  Lodge,   Knights  of  Pythias 
No.  435 

Mindlin  and  Rosenman 

Minerva  Club  of  New  York 

Minor,  J.  B. 

Mirsky,  Joseph 

Mirsky,  Joseph,  Employees  of 

Mishkind,  Isidor 

Mitchell,  Bloch  and  Kronenberg 

Mitchell,  Mrs.  E. 

Mitchell,  Wm. 

Model  Waist  and  Dress  Co. 


Moehle  Lithographic  Co. 

Mohawk  Civic  Club 

Monfried,  Max 

Montefiore  Synagogue  of  the  Bronx 

Montgomery,  M. 

Moolten,  Raphael  J. 

Moore,  W.  D.,  and  Co. 

Morgan,  Geo.  F. 

Morgan,  J.  P.,  and  Co. 

Morgenstein  and  Brill  and  employees 

Morris,  B. 

Morris,  Jos.  A.,  and  Co. 

Morris,  Jos.  A.,  and  Co.,  Employees  of 

Morris,  Mrs.  W. 

Morrison  and  Mashkowitz 

Morrison  and  Mashkowitz,  Em- 
ployees of 

Moser,  George  T. 

Moskowitz  Bros. 

Moss,  Joseph 

Mothers  Club  of  Port  Richmond 

Mott  Haven  Council  No.  31,  C.  B.  L. 

Mount  and  Woodhull 

Mount  Vernon  Lodge  No.  71,  I.  O.  F. 
S.  of  I. 

Muller,  Gus  A. 

Mulry,  Thos.  M. 

Murphy,  Charles  F. 

Murphy,  John  J. 

Murphy,  May  I. 

Musser,  Alfred  W. 

Mutual  Aid  Association  of  Samstag 
and  Hilder  Bros.,  Employees  of 

Myersen,  E.  E. 


Naegele,  Herman  E. 

Natel,  Therese 

Nathan,  Florence 

Nathan,  Harmon  H. 

Nathan,  Mrs.  Harmon  H. 

Nathan,  M.  I.,  and  employees 

Nathan,  Max 

Nathan,  Pinkus 

National  Furniture  and  Bedding  Co., 

Collections  by  J.  C. 
National  Lodge  No.  30,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
National  Meter  Co. 
National  Sporting  Club  of  America 
Naughton,  M. 
Nebenzahl  and  Munk 
Nederland  Israelitisch  Sick  Fund 
Negres,  Robert 
Neidlinger,  George  F. 
Neidlinger,  Louise 
Nelson  and  Landsberg 
Nelson  and  Landsberg,  Employees  of 


86 


WASHINGTON    PLACE    FIRE 


Netow,  J.  J. 

Neuburger,  M.,  and  Co.,  Employees  of 

Neugass,  M.,  Employees  of 

Neustadt,  Mrs.  Agnes 

Neustadter,  Mrs.  H. 

New  York  and  New  Jersey  Hardware 

and  Iron  Association 
New  York  American,  Through 
New  York  Button  Works,  Employees 

of 
New  York  Civil  Service  Association 
New  York  Evening  Sun,  Employees 

Association 
New  York  Herald,  Through 
New  York  Mozart  Society 
New  York  Society  of  Architects 
New  York  Stock  Exchange,  through 

Edward  Wassermann 
New   York   Ticket   Speculators   As- 
sociation 
New  York  Times,  Through 
New  York  University  Law  School 
New    York     University     Medical 

School,  Students  of 
Newman,  I.,  and  Sons 
Newman,  S. 
Newmann,  Henry 
Newton,  M. 
Niagara  Circle,  Inc. 
Nissen,  Ludwig  and  Co. 
Normal   College   H.   S.   Students  of 

93d    St.    and     Amsterdam     Ave. 

Annex 
Norr,  Henry  I. 

Norton  and  Gorman  Contracting  Co. 
Noschkes,  Louis 
Noschkes,  Louis,  Employees  of 
Noyes,  Mrs.  H.  D. 
Nussbaum-Goldsmith  Co. 


Obermeyer  and  Liebmann 

O'Callaghan,  C.  J. 

Oettinger,  L.  J. 

Ogden  Council  No.  1500,  Royal  Ar- 
canum 

Ollendorff,  I.,  Co. 

Olympic  Lodge  No.  207,  I.  0.  0.  F. 

Omega  Chemical  Co. 

One  Dollar  Skirt  Co. 

O'Neill,  Thos.  J.  and  Samuel  Hellin- 
ger,  Employees  of 

Oppenheim,  Beulah  S. 

Oppenheim,  Collins  and  Co. 

Oppenheim,  Collins  and  Co.,  Em- 
ployees of 

Oppenheimer,  Alder  and  Co. 


Oppenheimer  Bros,  and  Veith 

Oppenheimer,  Ernest 

Oppenheimer,  H.  Z.  and  H. 

Oppenheimer,  Henry  E.,  and  Co. 

Oppenheimer,  Zach  A. 

Oronsky,  H. 

Orthodox  Hebrew  Congregation  H.  O. 

at  Knoxville,  Tenn. 
Osgood,  Chas.  H. 
Ostrom,  Edward 
Ottinger  and  Bro. 
Ottman,  Louis 
Otto,  Samuel 


P.  A.  Club,  Proceeds  of  Cake  Sale 
Pabst  Harlem  Restaurant 
Packers  of  the  American  Cigar  Co. 
Palmenberg's,  J.  R.,  Sons,  Employees 

of 
Pantam,  M.  A. 
Paradise  and  Jacobs 
Paramount  Club  of  Brooklyn 
Paramount  Mfg.  Co.,  Employees  of 
Paris,  Allen  and  Co. 
Paris,  Panfilo 
Parisian  Mfg.  Co. 
Park  and  Tilford 
Parsons,  John  E. 
Parsons,  Mrs.  John  E. 
Parsons,  Mary  A. 
Particular    Council    Society    of    St. 

Vincent  de  Paul 
Pearlberg,  Mrs.  F.  C. 
Pearlman  Bros,  and  employees 
Pearsall,  James  W. 
Peckham  Seamless  Ring  Mfg.  Co. 
Pelgram  and  Meyer 
Penfold,  Joseph 
Perera,  Lionello 

Perfect  Ashlar  Lodge,  604,  F.  A.  M. 
Perkins,  Geo.  W. 

Perlman,  Hirschfeld  and  Wertheim 
Perlman,   Hirschfeld  and  Wertheim, 

Employees  of 
Perlman,  Louis 
Perry,  O.  B. 
Peshkin,  H. 
Petchesky,  Louis 
Peyser,  Nathan,  and  employees 
Pfeil,  Mrs.  F.  E. 

Piddian  and  Wormser,  Employees  of 
Pincus,  H. 

Pinta  Lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias 
Plaisted,  F.  H. 
Plonsky,  E. 
Plonsky,  G. 


87 


EMERGENCY    RELIEF 


Plonsky,  G.,  Employees  of 

Plummer,  J.  S.,  and  Co. 

Pollack,  Max,  and  Co. 

Pollock,  Max  L. 

Pollock,  Murry 

Pool,  S.  C. 

Poor,  George  E. 

Poplach,  Samuel,  Jr. 

Posner,  Benjamin 

Posner,  J.  D.,  and  Co. 

Post,  Samuel 

Potter,  E.  C. 

Potter,  Mrs.  Mark  L. 

Potts,  George 

Powell,  Mrs.  Jesse  G. 

Prager,  Less 

Pramler,  M. 

Pratt,  George  D. 

Prentiss,  Geo.  H.,  and  Co. 

Pretzfeld,  H.  F. 

Price,  David 

Pride  of  America  Camp  No.  5034 

Prince,  Samuel 

Princely         Club         Entertainment, 

through  The  Globe 
Princess  Shirt  Waist  Mfg.  Co. 
Princess  Waist  Co.,  Employees  of 
Prior,  Frederick  L. 
Progress  Republican  Club 
Propper  and  Schulhof 
Prosser,  Thos.,  and  Son 
Pulise,  S.  J.,  and  Co. 
Pulitzer,  Edith 
Pulitzer,  Ralph 
Pulp  and  Paper  Trading  Co. 


Queen  Mfg.  Co.  and  employees 
Quincy,  C.  F. 


R  Co.,  Inc.,  Employees  of 

Rabinovitz,  M.  N. 

Rabinowitz  Bros. 

Rabinowitz,  Harris 

Rabinowitz,  M. 

Rabinowitz,  M.,  Employees  of 

Radus,  N. 

Raisler  Heating  Co. 

Rankin,  Laura  M. 

Ranney,  A.  P.  and  S.  P. 

Raphael,  A.  M. 


Ravin,  M. 
Rawak,  George 
Rawak,  Simon 
Rayvid,  Louis 


Read,  William  A.,  and  Co. 

Realty  Supervision  Co. 

Rebecca  Society 

Reckendorfer,  Louis  M. 

Red  Cross,  N.  Y.  County  Chapter, 

Through 
Reichenberg,  Regina 
Reid,  Wallace 
Reis,  G.,  and  Bro. 
Reisinger,  H. 

Reliance  Boys  of  St.  Bartholomew's 
Reliance  Picture  Frame  Co.,  Inc. 
Religious     School     of     the     Peoples 

Temple  of  Bensonhurst 
Remsen,  Elizabeth 
Ribner,  M.  H. 
Rice,  Chas. 
Rice,  Nathan 
Rice,  S.  M. 
Rice,  Mrs.  Wm.  B. 
Rich  and  Sayles 
Richardson,  Enos,  and  Co. 
Richardson,  J.  N.f  and  Co. 
Richter,  Theodore  B. 
Ridder,  Herman 

Riker,  J.  J.,  and  Co.,  Employees  of 
Riker,  Samuel 
Ritter  Bros. 

Ritter  Bros.,  Employees  of 
Robertson,  Albert,  and  Co. 
Robertson,  R.  H. 
Robinson,  Chas.  A. 
Robinson,  Douglas 
Robinson,  Mrs.  Douglas 
Rochelle,  George  J. 
Rodenberg,  Milton  S. 
Rodrigues,  C. 
Roffles  and  Co. 
Rogers,  John  S. 
Rohde,  William 
Rohtman,  H.  A.,  and  Co. 
Rose  Bros. 

Rose  Bros.,  Employees  of 
Rosebud  Literary  and  Social  Circle  of 

Jersey  City 
Rosecrans,  B.  A. 
Rosen  and  Tannen 
Rosen  Bros. 
Rosen,  B.,  and  Co. 
Rosen,  J. 

Rosenbaum  and  Adler 
Rosenbaum  and  Co.,  Employees  of 
Rosenbaum,  Isaac 
Rosenberg  and  Solov 
Rosenberg  and  Solov,  Employees  of 
Rosenberg,  Gladys  B. 
Rosenberg,  Jacob 


88 


WASHINGTON    PLACE    FIRE 


Rosenberg,  Joseph,  and  Co. 

Rosenberg,  Seymour 

Rosenblum,  S. 

Rosenblum,  Mrs.  S. 

Rosenfeld,  Hyman 

Rosenfeld,  Morris 

Rosenfeld,  Wm.  J. 

Rosenheim's,  E.,  Son 

Rosener,  Henry 

Rosenstein,  A. 

Rosenthal,  A.  S.,  Co. 

Rosenthal  Bros.  Co. 

Rosenthal,  D. 

Rosenthal,  H.,  and  Co.,  Inc. 

Rosenthal,  Isaac 

Rosenthal  Mfg.  Co. 

Rosenthal,  Siegel  and  Co. 

Rosenwasser,  J.  L. 

Rosenzweig,  A. 

Rosett,  Mrs.  Cecilia 

Ross,  Francis  H. 

Roth  and  Lask 

Rothenberg,  Henry 

Rothschild  Bros,  and  Co. 

Rothschild,  Jack 

Rothschild,  L.  F.,  and  Co. 

Rothschild,  Louis 

Round  Table  Social  Club,  Brooklyn 

Rouss,  P.  W. 

Rovira  Benito  Co. 

Rubel,  Max,  and  Co.  and  employees 

Rubenstein,  Joseph 

Ruden,  Jacob 

Ruppert,  Jacob 

Ryan,  Thomas  F. 

Ryckoff,  R.  J. 


Saalberg,  Leopold 

Sachs  and  Kessler 

Sachs  and  Kessler,  Employees  of 

Sachs,  Leo  N. 

Sackett  and  Wilhelms  Co.,  Employees 

of 
Sage,  Dean 
Sage,  Mrs.  Russell 
St.  Thomas  Sunday  School 
Sakolski,  A.  M. 
Saks  and  Co. 
Salem  and  Schroder 
Samek  Brothers,  Employees  of 
Samuel,  Samuel 
Sandel,  Belle 

Sandowsky,  R.,  Employees  of 
Sapier  String  Orchestra  of  P.  S.  188, 

Concert  of 
Schachter,  Moses 


Schafer,  Samuel  L. 

Schaffner,  R.  F. 

Schafuss,  F.  L.,  Co.,  Employees  of 

Schaick,  Albert  P. 

Schapiro,  Rachel 

Schechter,  Isaac 

Scheftel,  Mrs.  A. 

Schenkein,  H.,  and  Sons 

Scheuer,  Samuel 

Schiff,  Arnold,  and  Co. 

Schiff,  Isaac 

Schiff,  Mortimer  L. 

Schiff,  Jacob  H. 

Schiffer,  Jack  W. 

Schlang,  Livingston  and  Ginsburg 

Schlang,    Livingston   and    Ginsburg, 

Employees  of 
Schleder,  Frank  J. 
Schleider,  M.  N. 
Schlesinger,  Siegmund 
Schlinger,  I. 
Schnakenberg,  D. 
Schneeweiss,  A.  E. 
Schneider,  David 

Schneierson,  I.,  Girls  in  factory  of 
Schnitzer,  M.,  and  Co. 
Schoen,  Jos.,  and  Co.,  Employees  of 
Scholem  Lodge  No.  26,  I.  O.  B.  A. 
Schoonmaker,  J.  H. 
Schorsch,  Emanuel 
Schottensfelds,  Julia 
Schram  and  Norden,  Employees  of 
Schramm,  Nathan 
Schroeder,  H. 
Schulze,  Edward 
Schurmann,  Adam 
Schwab,  Ad. 
Schwab,  Leopold  B. 
Schwabe,  Elsie  C. 

Schwabe,  Lester  A.,  for  B'nai  B'rith 
Schwartz,  A.,  and  Co. 
Schwartz,  A.,  and  Co.,  Employees  of 
Schwartz  Bros.,  Employees  of 
Schwartz,  M.,  through  Samuel  Floers- 

heimer 
Schwartz,  Max,  Lodge  100 
Schwarz,  A.  A. 
Scott,  Anna  Louise 
Scott,  Solomon,  and  Co. 
Scott,  Walter 
Scudder,  S.  D. 
Sealfon,  Harry,  Collected  by 
Seasongood,  A.  J. 
Seasongood,  Mrs.  Chas. 
Seckels,  Wm. 
Section  A  No.  1  Civils,  Cooper  Union 

Night  School 


89 


EMERGENCY    RELIEF 


Seidenberg,  S.,  and  Co. 

Seiferth,  B. 

Seigel,  JB.,  and  Tupper  Lake  sympa- 
thizers 

Self  Culture  Club  of  Brooklyn 

Seligman  and  Stern 

Seligman,  J.  and  W.,  and  Co. 

Seligman,  Mrs.  Jefferson 

Semel,  J.  H.,  and  Co. 

Senner  and  Kaplam  Co.  and  em- 
ployees 

Servidio,  Giovanni 

Seth  Thomas  Clock  Co. 

Seuft,  M. 

Seymour  Cravat  Co. 

Seymour  Cravat  Co.,  Employees  of 

Shannon  Bros.  Co. 

Shapiro  and  Dearnbaum 

Shattuck,  A.  R. 

Shavinsky,  F.,  through  Das  Yiddische 
Folk 

Sheinker,  W.,  and  Son 

Shevitz,  H. 

Shields,  Thos.,  through  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities 

Shiman,  Abr. 

Shiman  Bros,  and  Co. 

Shipley,  Alfred  E. 

Shoninger  Bros. 

Shontal,  Mrs.  M. 

Shrier,  Samuel,  and  Co. 

Shroud  Sisterhood 

Shulsky  Bros. 

Sicher,  D.  E.,  and  Co. 

Sicher,  D.  E.,and  Co.,  Employees  of 

Sidenberg,  G. 

Siegel,  Foster  Co. 

Siegman  and  Weil,  Employees  of 

Siemons,  Chas.  F.,  Inc. 

Sigma  Phi  Sigma  of  Brooklyn 

Silberman,  Kohn  and  Wallenstein 

Silberstein,  A.  L. 

Silberstein,  Isaac  J. 

Silberstein,  Sol.  D. 

Silin,  Nathan 

Silk,  Louis  A. 

Silny,  E.,  Co. 

Silver,  S.  L.,  and  Co.,  Employees  of 

Silverblatt,  B. 

Silverman  and  Lederer 

Silverman  and  Lederer,  Employees  of 

Silverman,  Samuel 

Silverstone,  A.  Fred. 

Simon,  J. 

Simon,  Louis,  and  Co. 

Simon,  Mrs.  Sam 

Simonds,  H.  J. 


Simons,  Arthur 

Sinclair,  Mrs.  Wm. 

Sing  Fat  Company 

Singer  Bros. 

Singer  Mfg.  Co. 

Singer,  M.,  and  Co. 

Sisterhood  of  the  Hebrew  Tabernacle 

Sisterhood  of  the  86th  Street  Temple 

Sisters  of  Zion,  Coney  Island 

Skudowitz,  LB. 

Skudowitz,  LB.,  Employees  of 

Slatkow,  Samuel  L. 

Slimowitz,  S.,  and  Co. 

Sloane,  William 

Sloane,  Mrs.  Wm.  D. 

Small,  A.  L. 

Smidt,  Grace  Lee 

Smith,  C.  Sydney,  and  Co. 

Smith,  F.  W. 

Smith,  F.  W.,  Jr. 

Smith,  M.  M.,  and  Co. 

Smith,  W.  B.,  and  I.,  and  Co. 

Smith,  Wm.  Alex. 

Smithers,  F.  S.,  and  Co. 

Smolin,  Julius,  and  employees 

Smyth,  Bernard,  and  Sons 

Snedeker,  Rudolph 

Snyder,  Miss 

Sobel,  M. 

Societa  Gioventu  Nicosiana 

Society  B'nee  Salem 

Solomon,  Charles 

Solomon  and  Leffler 

Solot,  M. 

Sonfield,  Joseph 

Sons    and    Daughters    of    Zion,    of 

Schenectady 
Sons  of  Land  of  Israel,  Collected  by 
Southern  Club 
Spence's     (Miss)     Boarding    School, 

Girls  of 
Spencer,  Aldrich 
Spencer,  Thos.  O. 
Spencer,  Trask  and  Co. 
Speyer,  James 
Speyer,  Leo 

Spiegel  and  Strauss,  Girl  employees  of 
Spiegelberg,  L.,  and  Sons 
Spiegelberg,  Walter  S. 
Spingarn,  Mrs.  Joel  Elias 
Spingarn,  S.  E. 
Spitzer  and  Harris  Co. 
Spitzer,  William  E. 
Springer,  Rebecca  T. 
Stag  Brand,  Employees  of 
Stamm,  John 
Standish,  M. 


90 


WASHINGTON    PLACE    FIRE 


Starlight,  Max  E. 

Stecher  and  Co. 

Stein,  Levy  and  Co. 

Steindler,  Edward 

Steiner,  Jos.,  and  Bros. 

Steinfeld,  S.,  and  Co. 

Steinfelder,  Samuel 

Steinhardt  Catering  Co. 

Steinthal,  A.,  and  Co. 

Steinthal,  L.,  and  Bro. 

Sterling  Button  Co. 

Stern  and  Co. 

Stern,  Adolph,  through  I.  B.  Hyman 

Stern,  Arthur 

Stern,  B.,  and  Co.  and  Stern,  Heins- 
man  and  Co.,  Employees  of 

Stern  Bros,  and  Co. 

Stern  Bros,  and  Co.,  Diamond  cutters 
of 

Stern  Bros.,  Tailors  and  dressmakers 
of 

Stern,  Hugo 

Stern,  J. 

Stern,  M.,  and  Co. 

Stern,  M.,  and  Co.,  Employees  of 

Stern,  S.  S.  and  A. 

Stern,  Sidney  W. 

Stern,  Sig. 

Sterngold  and  Brill 

Sterngold  and  Brill,  Employees  of 

Stetson,  Francis  Lynde 

Stettenheim,  J.  M. 

Stettenheimer,  Morris 

Stewart,  Warren,  and  Co. 

Stiner,  Max 

Stoll,  Robt. 

Stone,  Mrs.  M.  L. 

Strasburger,  Byron  L.,  and  Co. 

Stratton,  J.  C,  and  Co.,  Employees  of 

Strauss  and  Co.,  Employees  of 

Strauss  Bros. 

Strauss  Bros,  and  Co. 

Strauss,  Charles 

Strauss,  David 

Strauss,  Hermann,  through  LB.  Hy- 
man 

Strauss,  Ignaz,  and  Co. 

Strauss,  Jacob,  and  Son 

Strauss,  Julius 

Strauss,  Julius,  Employees  of 

Stroock,  S.,  and  Co. 

Styles,  Harry 

Sullivan,  Emily  S. 

Sullivan,  M.  Louise 

"Sunbeams,"  Educational  Alliance 

Sunshine  Club  of  Christodora  House 

Sussfeld,  Lorsch  and  Co. 


Sutro  Bros,  and  Co. 

Sutro,  Lionel 

Suzette  Mfg.  Co.  and  employees 

Swarzkopf,  Pauline 

Sykes  and  Seidman,  Employees  of 

Szold,  Mrs.  Sophie 


Taber,  Miss 

Tack,  Theodore  E. 

Talcott,  James 

Talmud  Torah  of  Orach  Chaim  Sis- 
terhood 

Tanenbaum,  L.,  Strauss  and  Co. 

Tannenbaum,  Simon 

Tanner,  Leonore 

Tausig,  Paul,  Inc. 

Tayler,  Franklin 

Temple  Beth-El,  Greenpoint,  Chil- 
dren of 

Temple  Emanu-El 

Temple  of  Israel  Sunday  School  chil- 
dren 

Tennyson  Club,  Inc. 

Terry,  John  T. 

Thayer,  J.  V.  B. 

Theodore   Roosevelt   Camp   No.    10, 
Spanish  War  Veterans 

Third  St.  Theatre,  Benefit 

Thompson,  Jane  R. 

Thompson,  Phillips  Blagden 

Tiemann,  Ella  A. 

Tierney,  Myles 

Tiffany  and  Co. 

Tilden  Club 

Tillotson,  W.  J. 

Tipple  and  Plitt 

Toch  Bros. 

Todd,  Judson  S. 

Toechter  Lodge  No.  I,  I.  O.  F.  S.  of  I. 

Toronto   (Canada)   Hebrew  Benevo- 
lent Association 

Toussaint,  J.  F. 

Towne,  Henry  R. 

Townsend  Harris  Hall,  Students  and 
employees  of 

Track,  A.  D. 

Treeger,  S. 

Treeger,  S.,  Employees  of 

Trinkle,  John  W. 

Trueb  and  Raefle  Co. 

Tuesday  Bridge  Club 

Turteltaub,  Nathan,  and  Son 

Tushnett,  Lancton  and  Hedinger,  Inc. 

Tuska,  A.  L.,  Son  and  Co. 

Tuska,  Benjamin 

Tuska,  Mrs.  M. 


91 


EMERGENCY    RELIEF 


Tutelman  Bros. 

Tweed,  Helen 

Twelfth  Ward  Democratic  Club 

Ueberall,  Benjamin 
Uhlfelder,  Mrs.  E. 
Ullman,  David  I.,  Employees  of 
Ulman,  Alice  M. 

Ulmann,    Bernhard,    and    Co.,    Em- 
ployees of 
Ulrich  and  Donaldson 
Underwood,  Van  Vorst  and  Hoyt 
Ungar,  Green wald  and  Miller 
Union     Street     Theatre,     Brooklyn, 

Benefit 
United  Auctioneers  and  Speculators 

Association 
United  Cigar  Mfrs.  Co.,  Employees 

of  factory  on  Second  Ave. 
United  Krakauer  Ladies  Aid  Society 
U.  S.  Grand  Lodge,  Ind.  Order  Sons 

of  Benjamin 
U.  S.  Worsted  Co. 
Universal  Club  of  Harlem 
Untermeyer,  Robbins  Co. 
Untermyer,  Samuel 
Urbani,  Theodore 
Uzlianer    Young    Men's    Benevolent 

Association 
Valensi,  J.,  and  Co.,  Theatre  benefit 
Vallemen's  shop,  Employees  of 
Van  Antwerpen,  van  der  Bosch  and 

Co. 
Van  Dam,  Edward,  and  employees 
Vanderhoff,  Mrs.  P.  A. 
Van  Emburgh,  D.  B. 
Van  Ingen,  E.  H.,  and  Co. 
Van  Wezel,  A.  S.,  Employees  of 
Van  Wezel,  S.  L. 
Veit,  Hirsch  and  Co. 
Velleman  and  Co.,  Employees  of 
Verdery,  Marion  J. 
Victor,  Mrs.  L. 
Victor,  S.  G. 
Victorius  Bros. 
Vogel,  Abraham  H. 
Vogel,  Isaac 
Vogel,  Sam 
Vogel,  W.  A. 
Vogel,  William 
Von  Lehnen,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Von  Tilzer,  Harry,  Music  Pub.  Co. 
Voss  and  Stern 


Waist  and   Dress    Mfrs.   Association 
(Contributors  entered  individually) 


Wakeman,  Lillian  C. 

Walcoff,  Phil,  and  Co. 

Waldman,  Abraham 

Waldorf  Waist  Co.,  Employees  of 

Walker,  Gladys  and  Jack 

Walker,  W.  L. 

Wallach,  A.,  and  Co. 

Walsh,  Walter  J. 

Walton,  Robert  K. 

Warburg,  Felix  M. 

Warburg,  Paul  M. 

Wardell,  Alice 

Warendorf,  Mrs.  A. 

Warendorff,  H. 

Warheit,  Through 

Warwick  Athletic  Club 

Washington,  Mrs.  A.  H. 

Wasserman,  B. 

Wasserman,  Edward 

Waters,  Horace 

Waters,  John  K. 

Waters,  Merrill  K. 

Watkins,  M. 

Watson,  Mr. 

Watts,  Geo.  B. 

Webb,  M.  Seward 

Webster,  Aaron,  and  Co. 

Webster,  George  N. 

Weeber,  Charles  G. 

Weibs,  Mrs.,  through  the   Brooklyn 

Bureau  of  Charities 
Weil,  Morris 
Weiler  Bros. 

Weinberg,  McCartie  and  Brandes 
Weiner,  S.,  and  Co.,  Employees  of 
Weinstein,  Israel,  through  the  United 

Hebrew  Charities 
Weisbaum  Bros. 

Weisberger,  Adolph,  Employees  of 
Weisel  Bros. 
Weisman,  Joseph 
Weiss  Mfg.  Co. 
Weiss  and  Klau  Co. 
Weiss  and  Klau  Co.,  Employees  of 
Weissman,  Adolph 
Welling,  W.  Brenton 
Wellington  Club 
Wells,  Fargo  and  Co.,  Employees  of 

Auditing  Dept. 
Wels,  Jacob 
Welsh,  Frederick 

Wenger,  Adeline  M.,  Collected  by 
Werdenschlag,  D. 
Wertheim,  Jacob 
Wertheim,  S. 

Wesendonck,  Walter,  and  Co. 
West  and  Flint 


92 


WASHINGTON    PLACE    FIRE 


West,  J.  T. 

Westinghouse  Lamp  Co.,  Employees 
of 

Wheeler,  Hayden  and  Co. 

White,  Horace 

White,  N.  H. 

White,  W.  A.  and  A.  M. 

White,  Mrs.  W.  J. 

White  Rats  of  America 

Wholesale  Florists 

Wieland,  Theodore  F. 

Wiener  Bros. 

Wiesen  and  Goldstein 

Wiesen  and  Goldstein,  Employees  of 

Wilcox  and  Gibbs  Sewing  Machine 
Co.,  Employees  of 

Wilcox,  Sidney  H. 

Wilkinson,  J.  Charles 

Wm.  Heller  Lodge  No.  4,  I.  O.  S.  B. 

Wm.  McKinley  Lodge  No.  840,  F. 
and  A.  M. 

William  Waldman  Council 

Williams  and  Peters 

Williams,  James  D. 

Williams,  James  J.,  Jr. 

Williams,  Robert 

Williamsburg  Hebrew  Bakers  As- 
sociation 

Willis,  W.  P.,  and  Co. 

Wills,  Nina  L. 

Wilson,  Chas.  J. 

Wilson,  Edgar  P. 

Wilson,  H.  O. 

Wimpfheimer,  A.,  and  Bros. 

Wine,  Liquor  and  Beer  Dealers  As- 
sociation 

Wineburgh,  Jesse 

Winkler,  Samuel 

Winter  Garden,  Benefit 

Winthrop,  Egerton  L. 

Wintner,  Louis 

Wirth,  C.  L. 

Wise  Bros.,  Yazoo  City,  Miss.,  Col- 
lected at 

Witherbee,  Mary  S. 

Wittnauer,  A.,  Co. 

Wittson,  Girard  S. 

Wodiska,  Julius 

Woerishoffer,  Mrs.  Anna 

Wolbarst,  A.  L. 

Wolbarst,  Mrs.  A.  L. 

Wolf,  Mrs.  B. 

Wolf  Co.,  Employees  of 

Wolf,  Mrs.  David 

Wolf,  F.  N. 

Wolf,  I.  S.,  and  Co. 

Wolf,  Julius 


Wolf,  Leonard  J. 
Wolf,  Michael 
Wolf,  Sara 
Wolff,  H.,  and  Co. 
Wolff,  Lewis  S. 
Wolff,  Max 
Wolff,  N.,  and  Co. 
Wolfsheim  and  Sachs 
Wolfson,  T. 

Wolkovisker  Young  Men's  Benevo- 
lent Association 
Wollman,  Henry 
Wollman,  William  J. 
Women's  Wear  Co. 
Wood,  J.  R.,  and  Sons 
Woolf,  Jesse,  and  employees 
World,  Readers  of 


X  Club  of  the  University  Settlement 
X  Y  Z  Club  of  Meriden,  Conn. 


Yamano,  Suyematsu 

Yard,  John 

Yeska,  Joseph,  and  employees 

Yorkville  Paper  Co. 

Young  Boys  Social  Club 

Young  Folks  League 

Young  Folks  League  of  Peoples  Hos- 
pital 

Young  Folks  League  of  Society  B'nee 
Salem 

Young  Folks  League  of  Temple 
Emanu-El,  Borough  Park 

Young  Liberty  Benevolent  Associa- 
tion 

Young  Men  of  the  Eastern  District 
Y.  M.  C.  A. 

Young  Mens  Benevolent  Society  of 
Brooklyn 

Y.  M.  H.  A.  of  Trenton,  N.  J. 


Zadek,  Sol. 
Zaro,  Henry  C. 
Zelenko  and  Moskowitz 
Zimmerman,  B. 
Zimmern,  Rees  and  Co. 
Zinke,  L.  and  A.  U. 
Zinn,  Simon 
Zippart,  Morris 
Zoller,  Chas.,  Co. 
Zollikoffer,  O.  F. 
Zucker  and  Josephy 


93 


EMERGENCY    RELIEF 


Anonymous,  84  contributions 

E.  H.  G. 

A  citizen 

E.  I.  B. 

A  friend  (3) 

E.  I.  L. 

A  friend  in  need 

Eine  Deutsche 

A  group  of  sympathizers 

Eismiraldi 

A  school-boy 

E.  J.  C.  S. 

A  well-wisher 

E.  J.  N. 

A  western  woman 

E.  J.  and  R.  J. 

A  working  girl,  V.  H. 

E.  L.  C. 

A.  A.  M. 

Elsie  M. 

A.  B.,  Mrs. 

E.  M.  B. 

A.  C,  A  Slocum  Survivor 

E.  M.  C. 

A.  J.  E.  Mrs. 

E.  P.  C. 

A.  I.  B.  Q. 

E.  R.  R. 

Americaneer 

E.  N.  S. 

A.  M.  F. 

E.  S. 

A.  M.  J. 

E.  W. 

A.  M.  P. 

A.  M.  S. 

A.  R. 

F.  A.  M. 

A.  T.  W.,  Mrs. 

F.  C.  J. 

Aunt  Hattie,  through  the  Brooklyn 

F.  E.  K. 

Bureau  of  Charities 

Fellow  sympathizers 

Fl.  P. 

Four  women 

Baltimore,  Md.,  subscriber 

Frau  B.,  N.  Y.  S.  Z. 

B.  and  B. 

B.  F.  Y. 

B.  J.  F. 

G.  C.  T. 

B.  M.  K. 

George  and  Stephen 

B.  S.  W. 

G.  L. 

B.  V. 

G.  S.  F.  J. 

B.  and  Z. 

H.  A. 

Captain  and  Mrs.  B. 

H.  C. 

C.  B.  F. 

Henry  and  Jeannette 

C.  B.  H.,  Mrs. 

H.  F. 

C.  C. 

H.  G. 

Chas.  S.,  Sam  Z.,  Moe  D. 

H.  J.  C. 

C.  H.  M. 

H.  L. 

Christian 

H.  M.  C. 

Citizen 

Hours  Rest 

C.  J.  D. 

H.  and  S. 

C.  L.  B.  M. 

H.  S. 

Collection  at  Lewiston,  Penna. 

C.  P. 

C.  S.  R. 

I.  H.  W. 

C.  T.  H. 

I.  K. 

In  memory  of  A/L.'and  E.  L 

In  memory  of  R.^E.*F. 

D.  B.  F. 

J.  A. 

E. 

J.  A.  B. 

E.  A.  R. 

J.  C.  C. 

E.  B. 

J.  C.  F. 

E.  H. 

J.  D.  S. 

94 


WASHINGTON    PLACE    FIRE 


J.  D.  V.  B. 
J.  L.  W. 

J.  M.  F. 

Joseph,  William,  and  Dorothea 

J.  T.  T. 

J.  W.  B. 

J.  W.  G. 


K. 


L. 

L.  L. 
L.  P. 

L.  S.  S. 


Inc. 


M.  A. 

M.  A.  K. 

Members  of  the  household  of — West 

83d  St. 
Members  of  a  sewing  society 
M.  E.  W. 
M.  and  G. 
M.  G.  F. 
M.  H.  S. 
M.  J.  E. 

M.  J.  K.  and  W.  J.  M. 
M.  K. 
M.  L. 

M.  L.,  Mrs. 
M.  L.  C. 
M.  L.  P. 
M.  L.  W. 
Mother 
M.  W.  M. 


N.  N. 


0.  G.  and  C.  G. 
O.  L. 

Only  a  mite 


Pacific  Coast,  by  C.  R.JN. 
P.  B.,  Employees  of 
P.  D.  B. 
P.  L.  H. 
P.  S. 
P.  W.  S. 


R 

H. 

R 

M. 

R 

S.  S.,  Mrs. 

S. 

S. 

C.  H. 

s. 

C.  Q. 

s. 

H. 

s. 

L.  S. 

s. 

N. 

s. 

S. 

s. 

S.  s. 

s. 

T.  D. 

s. 

W.  S.,  Mrs. 

Sympathizer  (9) 

Sympathizers 

T. 

F.  R. 

The  Pfumphs 

T. 

r.  s.   m 

Two  friends 

Two  widows 

V. 

B. 

V. 

E.  C. 

Veritas 

Warren  and  Elizabeth 

W 

.  c.  s. 

W 

M.  H. 

w 

N.  P. 

w 

R. 

w 

S. 

95 


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